Shloka 23
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
धृतराष्ट्र बोले--महर्षे! जो ब्राह्मण कोमलस्वभाव
gautama uvāca | supuṣpitaṃ kinnararājajuṣṭaṃ priyaṃ vanaṃ nandanaṃ nāradasya | gandharvāṇām apsarasāṃ ca śaśvat tatra tvāhaṃ hastinaṃ yātayiṣye ||
Gautama berkata: “Ada rimba Nandana—indah, dihiasi bunga-bungaan yang melimpah, dikunjungi para raja Kinnara, dan sentiasa dikasihi Nārada, para Gandharva serta Apsara. Walaupun engkau pergi ke sana, dari tempat itu juga aku akan membawa engkau kembali dan menuntut semula gajahku.”
गौतम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even celestial privilege and access to heavenly realms do not override moral accountability; a sage’s dharmic authority ensures that what is wrongly held must be restored, regardless of the splendor of the destination.
Gautama points to the famed heavenly grove Nandana—beloved of Nārada and inhabited by Gandharvas and Apsarases—and declares that even if the other party goes there, he will still retrieve and reclaim his elephant.