Shloka 4
Brāhmaṇya-प्रश्नः — The Inquiry into Attaining Brāhmaṇya
Mataṅga–Gardabhī Itihāsa
तपोवनगतं विप्रमभिगम्य महामुनिम् । पप्रच्छाज्िरसं धीर॑ गौतम: संशितव्रत:
tapovanagataṁ vipram abhigamya mahāmunim | papracchāṅgirasaṁ dhīro gautamaḥ saṁśitavrataḥ ||
ஒரு காலத்தில், தவவனத்தில் தங்கியிருந்த பிராமணர்களில் முதன்மையான மஹாமுனி, திடநெஞ்சுடைய அங்கிரஸை, கடும் விரதம் மேற்கொண்ட மஹரிஷி கௌதமர் அணுகி வினவினார்.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the dharmic method of learning: a disciplined seeker (Gautama) approaches a realized ascetic teacher (Aṅgiras) in a setting of tapas and asks questions. Ethical knowledge is presented as something to be sought through humility, restraint, and inquiry.
Bhishma introduces a traditional frame-story: the sage Gautama goes to the tapovana where the great sage Aṅgiras is staying and poses a question to him. This functions as the narrative gateway to the instruction that follows in the chapter.