Shloka 203
Pūjya-namaskārya-prakaraṇa
On Those Worthy of Honor and Salutation
यदि ते5हमनुग्राह्म: किंचिद् वा सुकृतं मम । धर्मज्ञ देवराज! यदि ऐसी अवस्थामें मैं आपका कृपापात्र हूँ अथवा यदि मेरा कुछ भी पुण्य शेष हो तो आप मुझे वर प्रदान कीजिये
yadi te 'ham anugrāhyaḥ kiñcid vā sukṛtaṃ mama | dharmajña devarāja ||
马唐伽说道：“若我堪受你的垂怜，或我尚存些许功德，那么，噢，通晓法（Dharma）者，诸天之王啊，请赐我一愿。”
मतंग उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical logic of boons and divine favor in the Mahabharata: grace is sought not as entitlement but as something grounded in humility and whatever residual merit (sukṛta/puṇya) one has earned through right conduct.
Matanga addresses Indra respectfully, acknowledging Indra as a knower of dharma, and petitions him for a boon—arguing that if Matanga is worthy of compassion or has any remaining merit, Indra should grant his request.