Bhishma said Thus addressed by Indra, Matanga of restrained vows and wellcontrolled soul, stood for a century of years on one foot, O you of unfading glory.

Highly illustrious Shakra more appeared before him and addressing him said The dignity of a Brahmana, O child, is unattainable. Although you covet it. It is impossible for you to obtain it.

O Matanga, by coveting that very great dignity you are sure to meet with destruction. Do not, O son, betray such rashness. This is not a righteous path for you to follow.

O you of foolish understanding, it is impossible for you to obtain it in this world, Verily, by coveting that which is unattainable you are sure to meet with destruction forthwith.

I am repeatedly forbidding you. By trying, however, to attain that high dignity by the help of your penances, despite my repeated admonitions, you are sure to meet with destruction.

From a brute life one gains the status of humanity. If born as a human being, he is sure to be born as a Pukkasha or a Chandala.

Verily, one having taken birth in that sinful caste, viz., Pulkasa, one, O Matanga, has to wander in it for a very long time.

Passing a period of one thousand years in that order one is next born as a Shudra. In the Shudra order, again, one has to wander for a long time.

After thirty thousand years one is born as a Vaishya. There in that order, one has to pass a very long time.

After a time that is sixty times longer than what has been stated as the period of Shudra birth, one becomes a Kshatriya. In the Kshatriya order one has to pass a very long time. After a time that is measured by multiplying the period last referred to by sixty, one is born as a fallen Brahmana. In this order one has to wander for a long period.

After a time measured by multiplying the period last named by two hundred, one is born in the race of such a Brahmana as lives by the profession of arms. There in that order one has to wander for a long period.

After a time measured by multiplying the period last name by three hundred, one is born in the race of a Brahmana that is given to the recitation of the Gayatri and other sacred Mantras. There, in that order, one has to wander for a long period. After a time measured by multiplying the period last named by four hundred, one is born in the race of such a Bralımana who knows the entire Vedas and the scriptures. There, in that order, one has to wander for a very long period.

While wandering in that existence, joy and grief, desire and hatred vanity and evil speech, scck to enter into him and make a wretch of him.

If he succeeds in subjugating those foes, he then acquires a high end. If, on the other hand, those enemies succeed in subjugating him, he falls down from that high position like a person falling down on the ground from the high top of a palmyra tree.

Knowing this for certain, O Matanga that I say to you do you name some other boon, for the status of a Brahmana is incapable of being acquired by you.