Shloka 35
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
गौतम उवाच ततो<परे भान्ति लोका: सनातना: सुपुण्यगंधा विरजा विशोका: । वरुणस्य राज्ञ: सदने महात्मन- स्तत्र त्वाहं हस्तिनं यातयिष्ये
gautama uvāca | tato 'pare bhānti lokāḥ sanātanāḥ supuṇyagandhā virajā viśokāḥ | varuṇasya rājñaḥ sadane mahātmanaḥ tatra tvāhaṃ hastinaṃ yātayiṣye ||
Gautama berkata: “Di balik itu, tampak pula dunia-dunia kekal lainnya—dipenuhi harum kebajikan agung, bebas dari debu nafsu dan bebas dari duka. Di kediaman raja Varuṇa yang berhati luhur terdapat alam-alam demikian. Ke sana aku akan pergi, dan dari engkau akan kuambil kembali gajahku ini.”
गौतम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links moral purity with the quality of one’s realm of experience: worlds characterized by merit are described as ‘fragrant,’ free from rajas (stain/passion) and sorrow. It also implies that ethical order is enforceable—wrongful possession must be rectified, even by invoking higher authority and sacred realms.
Gautama describes radiant, eternal realms associated with Varuṇa and declares his intent to go there and compel the return of his elephant—framing the recovery as an act grounded in cosmic order and rightful restitution.