अनुशासनिक पर्व — अन्य वर्ण का मनुष्य ब्राह्मणत्व कैसे प्राप्त करे

Yudhishthira said You, O grandfather, are endued with wisdom and knowledge of the scriptures, with conduct and behaviour, with various kinds of excellent attributes and also with years.

You are superior to others in intelligence, wisdom and penances. I shall, therefore, O you the foremost of all righteous men, wish to ask you questions about virtue.

There is not another man, O king, in all the worlds, who is worthier of being accosted on such topics. O best of kings, how may one, if he happens to be a Kshatriya or a Vaishya or a Shudra, succeed in acquiring the dignity of a Brahmana? You should tell nic the means. Is it by the most austere penances or by religious acts or by knowledge of the scriptures, that a person belonging to any of the three inferior castes succeeds in acquiring the dignity of Brahmana? Do tell me this, O grandfather.

Bhishma said The dignity of a Brahmana, O Yudhishthira, cannot be acquired by a person belonging to any of the three other castes. That dignity is the highest with respect to all creatures.

Passing through numberless orders of existence by undergoing repeated births, one at last in some birth, becomes born as a Brahmana.

Regarding it is cited an old history, O Yudhishthira, of a conversation between Matanga and a she-ass.

Once on a time a Brahmana obtained a son who, though procerated by a person belonging 10 a different caste, had, however, the rites of infancy and youth performed according to the ordinances laid down for Brahmanas. The Child passed by the name of Matanga and was endued with every accomplishment.

His father wishing to celebrate a sacrifice, ordered him, O destroyer of enemies, to collect the articles required for the act. Having received the command of his father, he started for the purpose, riding on a quick coursing car, drawn by an ass.

It so happened that the ass yoked to that car was very young. Instead, therefore of being reined, the animal bore away the car near its dam. viz., the she-ass that had brought it forth. Malanga, dissatisfied with this, began to strike the animal with his goad on its nose.

Seeing those marks of violence on her child's nose, the she-ass, full of affection for him, said, Do not grieve, O child, for this treatinent! A Chandala is driving you.

There is no harshness in a Brahmana. The Brahmana is said to be the friend of all creatures. He is the teacher also of all creatures and their ruler. Can he punish any creature so cruelly.

This fellow, however, is of sinful deeds. He has no mercy to show to even such a young creature. He is simply proving the order of his birth by behaving thus. The nature which he has derived from his father forbids the growth of the sentiments of pity and kindness which are natural to the Brahmana.

Hearing these harsh words of the she-ass Matanga speedily came down from the car and addressing the she-ass said, Tell me, O blessed dame, by what fault is my mother stained?

How do you know that I am a Chandala? Do you answer me forthwith,

How, indeed do you know that I am a Chandala? How have I lost the dignity of a Brahman? O you of great wisdom tell me all this fully, from beginning to end.

The She-ass said You were begotten upon a Brahmana woman worked up with desire, by a Shudra following the calling of a barber. You are therefore, a Chandala by birth. You have not the dignity of a Brahmana.

Bhishma said Thus addressed by the she ass Matanga returned home. Seeing him return. his father said I had engaged you in the difficult task of gathering the requisites of my intended sacrifice! Why have you returned without having accomplished your charge? Is it that you are not all right?

Matanga said How can he who belongs to no definite order of birth, or to low caste be regarded as all right and happy? How O father, can that person be happy whose mother is impure.

O father, this sheass, who seems to be more than a human being, tells me that I have been begotten upon a Brahman woman by a Shudra. I shall for this reason, practise the severest penances.

Having said these words to his father, and firmly resolved upon what he had said, he went to the great forest and began to practise the austerest of penances.

Beginning those penances for the purpose of happily acquiring the dignity of a Brahmana Matanga began to scorch the very gods by the severity of his asceticism,

The king of the celestials, viz., Indra, appeared to him thus practising penances and said Why, O Matanga, do you pass your time in such grief, abstaining from all sorts of human enjoyments.

I shall give you boons. Do you name the boons. Do not delay, but tell me what is in your mind. Even if it be unattainable, I Shall yet bestow it on you.

Matanga said Desirous of acquiring the dignity of a Brahmana I have begun to practise these penances. After having obtained it, I shall go home. Even this is the boon I pray for.

Bhishma said Hearing these words of his, Purandara said to him The dignity of a Brahmana, O Matanga, which you wish to acquire, cannot be won by you.

It is true, you wish to acquire it, but then it cannot be won by persons of impure souls. O you of foolish understanding, you are sure to meet with destruction if you persist in this pursuit. Desist, therefore, from this vain attempt forthwith.

This object of your desire viz., the dignity of Brahmana, which is the foremost of everything, cannot be even acquired by penances. Therefore by coveting that foremost dignity, you will surely meet with destruction.

One born as a Chandala can never acquire that dignity which is considered as the most sacred among the celestials and Asuras and human beings. once