Shloka 33
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
गौतमने कहा--राजन्! सोमलोकसे भी ऊपर कितने ही सनातन लोक प्रकाशित होते हैं, जो रजोगुण, तमोगुण और शोकसे रहित है। वे महात्मा सूर्यदेवके स्थान हैं। वहाँ जाकर भी मैं तुमसे अपना हाथी वसूल करूँगा ।।
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca—svādhyāyaśīlā guruśuśrūṣaṇe ratāḥ tapasvinaḥ suvratāḥ satyasaṃdhāḥ | ācāryāṇām apratikūlabhāṣiṇo nityotthitā gurukarmasvacodyāḥ ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra dijo: «¡Oh sabio! Aquellas grandes almas entregadas al autoestudio (svādhyāya), que se complacen en servir a sus maestros, practican austeridades, guardan votos excelentes y están firmemente consagradas a la verdad; que no hablan en contra de sus preceptores, que son siempre diligentes y que, sin ser instadas, se ocupan de los deberes del guru—solo esos hombres, de corazón puro, disciplinados y conocedores del Veda, son dignos del reino del dios Sol».
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates a dharmic ideal: spiritual attainment is grounded in disciplined learning (svādhyāya), humble service to one’s teacher (guru-śuśrūṣā), austerity, truthful commitment, and respectful speech. Merit is portrayed as inseparable from ethical conduct and reverence for the sources of knowledge.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra describes the qualities of people who are worthy of a high celestial destination—specifically a solar realm—emphasizing their conduct toward teachers and their steadfastness in vows and truth.