Shloka 143
Pūjya-namaskārya-prakaraṇa
On Those Worthy of Honor and Salutation
सुदुर्लभं सदावाप्य नानुतिष्ठन्ति मानवा: । शतक्रतो! यदि क्षत्रिय आदि तीन वर्णोके लिये ब्राह्मणत्व दुर्लभ है तो उस परम दुर्लभ ब्राह्मणत्वको पाकर भी मनुष्य ब्राह्मणोचित शम-दमका अनुष्ठान नहीं करते हैं। यह कितने दुःखकी बात है!
sudurlabhaṃ sadāvāpya nānutiṣṭhanti mānavāḥ | śatakrato! yadi kṣatriya ādi trīṇāṃ varṇānāṃ brāhmaṇatvaṃ durlabhaṃ, tato ’pi taṃ paramadurlabhaṃ brāhmaṇatvaṃ prāpya manuṣyā brāhmaṇocita-śama-damānuṣṭhānaṃ na kurvanti—kīdṛśaṃ duḥkhasya viṣayam iti |
摩檀伽曰：“纵得至为稀有之物，人亦往往不能践行以副其名。噫，百祭主（释迦罗、因陀罗）！若婆罗门之位于刹帝利等其余三姓实为难得，则更何其悲哀：人既已获得那至稀至贵之身分，却仍不修婆罗门应行之法——寂静（śama）与自制（dama）。”
मतंग उवाच
Educational Q&A
Rare privileges or statuses are meaningful only when matched by corresponding conduct; Brahminhood, in particular, is validated by practicing śama (inner tranquility) and dama (sense-restraint), not merely by attainment or label.
Matanga addresses Indra (Śatakratu), lamenting that even after attaining the highly difficult ideal of Brahminhood—especially rare for those of other varṇas—people often neglect the disciplines that define it, making it a cause for sorrow.