Shloka 25

Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant

Devanagari script

गौतम उवाच यत्रोत्तरा: कुरवो भांति रम्या देवै: सार्थ मोदमाना नरेन्द्र । यत्राग्नियौनाश्ष॒ वसंति लोका अब्योनय: पर्वतयोनयश्नल

Transliteration

gautama uvāca | yatrottarāḥ kuravo bhānti ramyā devaiḥ sārthaṃ modamānā narendra | yatrāgni-yonāś ca vasanti lokā ab-yonayaḥ parvata-yonayaś ca ||

Translation

ଗୌତମ କହିଲେ—ହେ ନରେନ୍ଦ୍ର! ଯେଉଁଠାରେ ରମଣୀୟ ରୂପଧାରୀ ଉତ୍ତର କୁରୁମାନେ ଦେବମାନଙ୍କ ସହ ଆନନ୍ଦ କରି ଦୀପ୍ତିମାନ ହୁଅନ୍ତି, ଯେଉଁଠାରେ ଅଗ୍ନିଜ, ଜଳଜ ଓ ପର୍ବତଜ ଦିବ୍ୟ ଜନ ବସନ୍ତି; ଯେଉଁଠାରେ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର ସମସ୍ତ କାମନାର ସିଦ୍ଧି ବର୍ଷା କରନ୍ତି, ଯେଉଁଠାରେ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀମାନେ ସ୍ୱେଚ୍ଛାନୁସାରେ ବିଚରଣ କରନ୍ତି ଏବଂ ଯେଉଁଠାରେ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀ-ପୁରୁଷମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଈର୍ଷ୍ୟା ସର୍ବଥା ନାହିଁ—ସେ ଦେଶକୁ ଯାଇ ମୁଁ ତୁମଠାରୁ ମୋ ହାତୀକୁ ପୁନଃ ନେବି।

Word by Word

• गौतमः: Gautama
• गौतमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौतम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, Third, Singular

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र

• उत्तराः: northern
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• कुरवः: the Kurus
• कुरवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भान्ति: shine/appear splendid
• Type: Verb
• Root: भा
• Form: Present, Third, Plural

• रम्याः: delightful, beautiful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• देवैः: with the gods
• देवैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• सार्थम्: together, in company
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्थम्

• मोदमानाḥ: rejoicing
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुद्
• Form: Present active participle, Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• नरेन्द्र: O king (lord of men)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र

• अग्नि-योनयः: those born of fire
• अग्नि-योनयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नियोनि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• वसन्ति: dwell, live
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural

• लोकाः: people, beings
• लोकाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• अब्द-योनयः: those born of water
• अब्द-योनयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अब्दयोनि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• पर्वत-योनयः: those born of mountains
• पर्वत-योनयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वतयोनि
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

गौतम उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Gautama
• Narendra (the king addressed)
• Uttara-Kuru (Northern Kurus)
• Devas
• Indra
• Elephant (hastin)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the moral force of a sage’s vow and the principle of rightful restitution: Gautama sets a clear condition for reclaiming what is his, while also contrasting ordinary human society with an ideal realm marked by abundance and the absence of jealousy—implying that ethical harmony is a higher good than mere enjoyment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Gautama addresses a king and describes the wondrous land of Uttara-Kuru, where divine-like beings live and all desires are fulfilled under Indra’s beneficence. He declares that after going there, he will return to take back his elephant—framing his claim as a firm, time-bound resolve.