Shloka 57
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
गौतम उवाच श्वेतं करेणुं मम पुत्र हि नागं य॑ मेडहार्षीदेशवर्षाणि बालम् | यो मे वने वसतो< भूद् द्वितीय- स्तमेव मे देहि सुरेन्द्र नागम्
gautama uvāca—śvetaṃ kareṇuṃ mama putra hi nāgaṃ ya medhārṣīdeśavarṣāṇi bālam | yo me vane vasato bhūd dvitīyas tam eva me dehi surendra nāgam ||
Gautama dit : « Ô Indra, cet éléphant blanc—mon propre fils—bien qu’il ait grandi et soit devenu un jeune éléphant, n’a pourtant que dix ans. Vivant avec moi dans la forêt, il a été mon second moi, mon compagnon et mon soutien. Tu l’as emmené ; aussi, seigneur des dieux, rends‑moi cet éléphant-là même. »
गौतम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharma as respect for rightful bonds and non-injury: even a powerful deity should heed justice and compassion when an ascetic’s dependent (here, a ‘son’ in the form of an elephant) is taken. Moral authority is asserted through truthful, restrained petition rather than force.
Gautama addresses Indra directly, identifying the seized white elephant as his own son and forest-companion. He emphasizes the elephant’s youth and intimate dependence, then requests that Indra return the very same elephant.