Shloka 9

Indra–Mataṅga Saṃvāda: On the rarity and responsibilities of Brāhmaṇya (इन्द्र-मतङ्ग संवादः)

Devanagari script

स यज्ञकार: कौन्तेय पित्रोत्सृष्ट: परंतप । प्रायाद्‌ गर्दभयुक्तेन रथेनाप्याशुगामिना

Transliteration

sa yajñakāraḥ kaunteya pitrotsṛṣṭaḥ parantapa | prāyād gardabhayuktena rathenāpy āśugāminā ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“哦，昆蒂之子、焚敌者啊——马唐伽（Mataṅga）身为司祭，奉父命前往为一位施主主持祭祀（yajña）。他乘坐一辆疾驰的车，车辕系以驴群，奔赴那被委任的仪式。”

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• यज्ञकारः: sacrificer / performer of a sacrifice
• यज्ञकारः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञकार
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कौन्तेय: O son of Kunti
• कौन्तेय: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौन्तेय
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• पित्रा: by (his) father
• पित्रा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• उत्सृष्टः: sent forth / dispatched
• उत्सृष्टः: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्सृज्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)

• परंतप: O scorcher of foes
• परंतप: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: परंतप
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• प्रायात्: went forth / departed
• प्रायात्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-या
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• गर्दभयुक्तेन: yoked with donkeys
• गर्दभयुक्तेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गर्दभयुक्त
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• रथेन: by/with a chariot
• रथेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अपि: also / even
• अपि: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• आशुगामिना: swift-going
• आशुगामिना: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आशुगामिन्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Kaunteya (Yudhishthira)
• Matanga
• father of Matanga
• yajamāna (sacrificial patron)
• yajña
• ratha (chariot)
• gardabha (donkeys)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames dharma through disciplined duty: an officiant proceeds to a sacrifice when commissioned by his father, emphasizing obedience to elders and commitment to ritual responsibility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma begins an illustrative episode: Matanga, a sacrificial priest, is sent by his father to conduct a patron’s yajña and travels quickly in a donkey-yoked chariot to reach the rite.