Shloka 18
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
गौतम उवाच मन्दाकिनी वैश्रवणस्य राज्ञो महाभागा भोगिजनप्रवेश्या । गंधर्वयक्षैरप्सरोभिश्व जुष्टा तत्र त्वाहं हस्तिनं यातयिष्ये
gautama uvāca mandākinī vaiśravaṇasya rājño mahābhāgā bhogijanapraveśyā | gandharvayakṣair apsarobhiś ca juṣṭā tatra tvāhaṃ hastinaṃ yātayiṣye ||
Gautama said: “Mandākinī, the most fortunate river, lies in the realm of King Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera), a place accessible to the serpent-folk. It is continually frequented by Gandharvas, Yakṣas, and Apsarases. There I shall go and make you surrender the elephant.”
गौतम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes rightful recovery and moral accountability: even in exalted or divine domains, one may pursue just restitution. It also reflects the authority of a sage to uphold dharma by compelling the return of what is due.
Gautama describes Mandākinī in Kubera’s realm—frequented by celestial beings and accessible to Nāgas—and declares his intention to go there and compel the surrender/return of an elephant from the addressed party.