Shloka 12
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
गौतम उवाच तवैव गावो हि भवन्तु राजन् दास्य: सनिष्का विविध च रत्नम् । अन्यच्च वित्त विविध॑ नरेन्द्र किं ब्राह्मणस्येह धनेन कृत्यम्
gautama uvāca | tavaiva gāvo hi bhavantu rājan dāsyaḥ saniṣkā vividhā ca ratnam | anyac ca vittaṃ vividhaṃ narendra kiṃ brāhmaṇasyeha dhanena kṛtyam ||
Gautama dit : « Ô roi, que ces vaches demeurent auprès de toi—avec les servantes, les pièces d’or, les joyaux de toutes sortes et toute autre richesse variée. Ô seigneur des hommes, quel besoin un brāhmaṇa a-t-il ici de richesses ? »
गौतम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes non-attachment: a brāhmaṇa’s proper aim is not accumulation of wealth but living by dharma, contentment, and spiritual discipline; therefore Gautama declines material riches.
Gautama addresses a king who is offering valuable possessions—cows, servants, gold, jewels, and other wealth. Gautama refuses, stating that such riches should remain with the king because a brāhmaṇa has no essential purpose for them in this context.