युधिष्ठिर उवाच ब्राह्मण्यं यदि दुष्प्राप्यं त्रिभिर्वर्णैर्नराधिप। कथं प्राप्तं महाराज क्षत्रियेण महात्मना॥ विश्वामित्रेण धर्मात्पन् ब्राह्मणत्वं नरर्षभ। श्रोतुमिच्छामि तत्त्वेन तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह॥
Yudhishthira said If, O prince, it is so very difficult for the other three castes to acquire Brahmanahood, how then did the great Vishvasmitra, O king, though a Kshatriya, acquire the status of a Brahmana? I desire to know this, O sire! Therefore, do you truly describe this matter to me.
तेन ह्यमितवीर्येण वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः। हतं पुत्रशतं सद्यस्तपसाऽपि पितामह॥
O Sire, by virtue of his austerities that powerful man destroyed in a moment the hundred sons of the great Vasishtha.
यातुधानाश्च बहवो राक्षसास्तिग्मतेजसः। मन्युनाऽऽविष्टदेहेन सृष्टाः कालान्तकोपमाः॥
While under the influence of ire, he created numberless evil spirits and Rakshasas of great vigour and resembling the great destroyer Kala himself.
महान् कुशिकवंशश्च ब्रह्मर्षिशतसंकुलः। स्थापितो नरलोकेऽस्मिन् विद्वद्ब्राह्मणसंस्तुतः॥
The great and learned family of Kushika, containing hundreds of twiceborn sages in it and highly spoken of by the Brahmanas, was founded in this world of men by him.
ऋचीकस्यात्मजश्चैव शुनःशेपो महातपाः। विमोक्षितो महासत्रात् पशुतामप्युपागतः॥
Having been sought to be killed as an animal in the great sacrifice of Amvarisha, Shunashepha of austere penances the son of Richika acquired his deliverance through Vishvamitra.
हरिश्चन्द्रक्रतौ देवांस्तोषयित्वाऽऽत्मतेजसा। पुत्रतामनु सम्प्राप्तो विश्वामित्रस्य धीमतः॥
Having pleased the gods at a sacrifice Harishchandra became a son of the wise Vishvamitra.
नाभिवादयते ज्येष्ठं देवरातं नराधिप। पुत्राः पञ्चाशदेवापि शप्ताः श्वपचतां गताः॥
For not having honoured their eldest brother Devarat, the other fifty brothers of his were imprecated, and all of them became Chandalas.
त्रिशङ्कुर्वन्धुभिर्मुक्त ऐक्ष्वाकः प्रीतिपूर्वकम्। अवाशिरा दिवं नीतो दक्षिणामाश्रितो दिशम्॥
When abandoned by his friends, and hanging with his head down wards in the lower regions, Trisanku, the son of Ikshaku, was translated to heaven at the pleasure of Vishvamitra.
विश्वामित्रस्य विपुला नदी देवर्षिसेविता। कौशिकी च शिवा पुण्या ब्रह्मर्षिसुरसेविता॥
Vishvamitra had a large river, named Kaushiki, that was frequented by celestial Rishis. This sacred and suspicious river was frequented by the celestials and twiceborn Rishis.
तपोविनकरी चैव पञ्चचूडा सुसम्मता। रम्भा नामाप्सराः शापाद् यस्य शैलत्वमागता॥
For disturbing his devotions, the famous celestial nymph Rambha, having fine bracelets, was cursed and changed into a rock.
तथैवास्य भयाद् बद्ध्वा वसिष्ठः सलिले पुरा। आत्मानं मज्जयन् श्रीमान् विपाशः पुनरुत्थितः॥
From fear of Vishvamitra the glorious Vasishtha, in days of yore, binding himself with creepers, threw himself down into a river and again rose released from his fetters,
तदाप्रभृति पुण्या हि विपाशाऽभून्महानदी। विख्याता कर्मणा तेन वसिष्ठस्य महात्मनः॥
On account of this, that large and sacred river became thenceforth famous by the name of Vipasha.
वाग्भिश्च भगवान् येन देवसेनाग्रगः प्रभुः। स्तुतः प्रीतमनाश्चासीच्छापाञ्चैनममुञ्चत॥ ध्रुवस्यौत्तानपादस्य ब्रह्मर्षीणां तथैव च। मध्यं ज्वलति यो नित्यमुदीचीमाश्रितो दिशम्॥
He prayed to the glorious and powerful Indra who was pleased with him and freed him from a curse. Remaining on the northern side of the sky, he sheds his lustre from a position in the midst of the seven twiceborn Rishis, and Dhruva the son of Uttanpada.
तस्यैतानि च कर्माणि तथान्यानि च कौरव। क्षत्रियस्येत्यतो जातमिदं कौतूहलं मम॥
These and many others are his feats. O descendant of Kuru, my curiosity has been kindled in this respect, because they were performed by a Kshstriya.
किमेतदिति तत्त्वेन प्रब्रूहि भरतर्षभ। देहान्तरमनासाद्य कथं स ब्राह्मणोऽभवत्॥
Therefore, O foremost one of Bharata's race do you relate this matter to me truly! How without renouncing his body and taking another body of flesh could he become a Brahmana?
एतत् तत्त्वेन मे तात सर्वमाख्यातुमर्हसि। मतङ्गस्य यथातत्त्वं तथैवैतद् वदस्व मे॥
Do you, O sire, truly describe this matter to me as you have described to me the story of Matanga.
स्थाने मतङ्गा ब्राह्मण्यं नालभद् भरतर्षभ। चण्डालयोनौ जातो हि कथं ब्राह्मण्यमाप्तवान्॥
Matanga was born as a Chandala, and could not acquire Brahmanahood, but how could this man acquire the status of a Brahmana?
किमेतदिति तत्त्वेन प्रब्रूहि भरतर्षभ। देहान्तरमनासाद्य कथं स ब्राह्मणोऽभवत्॥
Therefore, O foremost one of Bharata's race do you relate this matter to me truly! How without renouncing his body and taking another body of flesh could he become a Brahmana?
एतत् तत्त्वेन मे तात सर्वमाख्यातुमर्हसि। मतङ्गस्य यथातत्त्वं तथैवैतद् वदस्व मे॥
Do you, O sire, truly describe this matter to me as you have described to me the story of Matanga.
स्थाने मतङ्गा ब्राह्मण्यं नालभद् भरतर्षभ। चण्डालयोनौ जातो हि कथं ब्राह्मण्यमाप्तवान्॥
Matanga was born as a Chandala, and could not acquire Brahmanahood, but how could this man acquire the status of a Brahmana?