Shloka 29
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
गौतम उवाच ततो<परे भांति लोका: सनातना: सुपुण्यगन्धा विरजा वीतशोका: । सोमस्य राज्ञ: सदने महात्मन- स्तत्र त्वाहं हस्तिनं यातयिष्ये
Gautama uvāca: tato 'pare bhānti lokāḥ sanātanāḥ supuṇyagandhā virajā vītaśokāḥ | somasya rājñaḥ sadane mahātmanaḥ tatra tvāhaṃ hastinaṃ yātayiṣye ||
Gautama sprach: „Jenseits davon erglänzen andere ewige Welten, durchdrungen vom Duft großen Verdienstes—frei von Staub und Leidenschaft und gänzlich ohne Kummer. Sie sind die Wohnstatt des großherzigen Königs Soma. Wenn ich jenes Reich erreiche, dann werde ich dort meinen Elefanten von dir zurückfordern.“
गौतम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts higher, merit-born realms—described as radiant, pure (viraja) and sorrowless (vītaśoka)—with ordinary existence, implying that ethical and spiritual merit leads to states characterized by inner clarity and freedom from grief. It also underscores the moral force of a sage’s resolve: rightful restitution will be pursued even across realms.
Gautama speaks of transcendent, eternal worlds and identifies the abode of King Soma as such a realm. He declares that upon reaching Soma’s domain he will recover his elephant from the addressed king, indicating an impending act of reclaiming what is due.