Anushasanika Parva — The story of Indra and Matanga on the subject

Bhishma said Thus addressed by Indra, Matanga refused to hear what he was commanded. On the other hand, with regulated vows and purified soul, he practised austerer penances by standing on one foot for a thousand years, being deeply engaged in Yoga-meditation.

After a thousand years had passed away, Shakra once more came to see him. Indeed the destroyer of Vala and Vritra laid to him the same words.

Matanga said I have passed these thousand years, standing on one foot, with soul engaged in meditation and in the observance of the vow of celibacy. Why is it that I have not yet succeeded in acquiring the dignity of a Brahmana?

Shakra said One born as a Chandala cannot, by any means, acquire the dignity of a Brahmana. Do you, therefore, name some other boon so that all this labour of yours may not prove futile! Thus addressed by the king of the celestials, Matanga became filled with grief. He went to Gaya, and passed there a century of years, standing all the while on one foot.

On account of the observance of such Yoga which was extremely difficult to bear, he became very much emaciated and his arteries and veins became swollen and visible. He was reduced to only skin and bones. We have heard that righteous person, while practising those austerities at Gaya, dropped down on the ground from sheer exhaustion.

Seeing him falling down the lord and giver of boons, engaged in the behoof of all creatures viz., Vasava, speedily came to that spot and held him fast.

Shakra said It seems, O Matanga , that the dignity of a Brahmana which you seek is illsuited to you. That dignity is incapable of being acquired by you. Indeed in your case, it is beset with many dangers.

A person by adoring a Brahmana acquires happiness; while by abstaining from such worship, he gets grief and misery. The Brahmana is as regards all creatures, the giver of what they prize or covet and the protector of what they already have.

It is through the Brahmanas that the departed manes and the deities become pleased. The Brahmana, O Matanga, is said to be the foremost of all created Beings. The Brahmana grants all objects which are desired and in the way they are desired.

Passing through numberless orders of being and undergoing repeated rebirths, one succeeds in some subsequent birth in acquiring the dignity of a Brahmana.

That dignity is really incapable of being obtained by persons of impure souls. Do you, therefore, relinquish the idea Do you name some other boon. The particular boon which you seek is incapable of being granted to you.

Matanga said Stricken as I am with grief, why, O Shakra, do you afflict me further? You are striking one that is already dead, by this conduct. I do not pity you who having acquired the dignity of a Brahmana fail to retain it.

Those who having won the dignity of a Brahmana that, like wealth, is so difficult to acquire, do not seek to keep it up, must be considered as the most wretched in this world. Indeed, they are the most sinful of all creatures.

Forsooth, the dignity of a Brahmana is highly difficult to attain, and being attained, is difficult to maintain, it is capable of removing every sort of grief. Alas, having got it men do not always seek to keep it up.

When even such persons are considered as Brahmanas, why is it that I, who am pleased with my own self, who am superior to all pairs of opposites, who am dissociated from all worldly objects, who am observant of the duty of mercy towards all creatures and of selfcontrol of conduct, should be considered worthy of that dignity?

not How unfortunate I am, O Purandara, that through the sin of my mother I have been reduced to this plight, although I am not unrighteous in my conduct?

Forsooth, Destiny is incapable of being warded off or conquered by individual exertion since, O lord, I am unable to acquire, despite these.persistent attempts of mine the object for the acquisi.ion of which I am trying.

When such is the case, O righteous one, you should grant me some other boon if, indeed, I have become worthy of your favour or if I have a little of merit!

Bhishma said The destroyer of Vala and Vritra then said to him Do you name the boon! Thus urged by the great Indra, Matanga said the following words

Matanga said Gifted with the power of assuming any form at will, let me be able to journey through the skies and let me enjoy whatever pleasures I may wish for. And let me also have the willing worship of both Brahmanas and Kshatriyas.

I bow to you by bending my head, O god! You should do that also by which my fame, O Purandara, may live eternally in the world!

Shakra said You will be celebrated as the deity of a particular measure of verse and you will get the worship of all women. Your fame, O son, shall become peerless in the three worlds.

Having granted him these boons, Vasava disappeared there and then. Matanga also renouncing his lifebreaths, acquired a high place.

You may thus see, O Bharata that the dignity of a Brahmana is very high. That dignity is incapable of being acquired here as said by the great Indra himself.