Shloka 39
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
धृतराष्ट उवाच शतवर्षजीवी यश्व शूरो मनुष्यो वेदाध्यायी यश्व यज्वाप्रमत्त: । एते सर्वे शक्रलोक॑ व्रजन्ति परं गन्ता धृतराष्ट्रो न तत्र
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca | śatavarṣajīvī yaś ca śūro manuṣyo vedādhyāyī yaś ca yajvā apramattaḥ | ete sarve śakralokaṁ vrajanti paraṁ gantā dhṛtarāṣṭro na tatra |
Dhṛtarāṣṭra berkata: “Seorang manusia yang hidup seratus tahun, yang gagah berani, yang mempelajari Weda, yang tekun sebagai pelaksana kurban, dan yang senantiasa waspada—mereka semua pergi ke dunia Śakra (Indra). Namun Dhṛtarāṣṭra tidak akan pergi ke sana; ia akan mencapai alam yang lebih tinggi daripada itu.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links specific disciplines—heroic steadiness, Vedic study, faithful performance of sacrifice, and especially freedom from negligence (apramāda)—with attaining heavenly realms (Indra’s world). It also introduces a hierarchy of destinations, implying that higher spiritual attainments can surpass even the standard ‘heaven of merit’ gained by ritual and virtue.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra speaks about the posthumous destinations of different kinds of virtuous people. He states that those who combine longevity, valor, Vedic learning, sacrificial commitment, and vigilance reach Śakra’s world, while asserting that Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s own destination is higher than Indra’s heaven.