Shloka 33
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
गौतमने कहा--राजन्! सोमलोकसे भी ऊपर कितने ही सनातन लोक प्रकाशित होते हैं, जो रजोगुण, तमोगुण और शोकसे रहित है। वे महात्मा सूर्यदेवके स्थान हैं। वहाँ जाकर भी मैं तुमसे अपना हाथी वसूल करूँगा ।।
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca—svādhyāyaśīlā guruśuśrūṣaṇe ratāḥ tapasvinaḥ suvratāḥ satyasaṃdhāḥ | ācāryāṇām apratikūlabhāṣiṇo nityotthitā gurukarmasvacodyāḥ ||
Dhṛtarāṣṭra disse: “Ó sábio! Aquelas grandes almas devotadas ao autoestudo (svādhyāya), que se deleitam em servir seus mestres, praticam austeridades, guardam excelentes votos e estão firmemente comprometidas com a verdade—que nunca falam contra seus preceptores, que são sempre diligentes e que, sem serem instadas, se ocupam dos deveres do guru—somente esses homens, de coração puro, disciplinados e conhecedores do Veda, são aptos ao reino do deus Sol.”
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates a dharmic ideal: spiritual attainment is grounded in disciplined learning (svādhyāya), humble service to one’s teacher (guru-śuśrūṣā), austerity, truthful commitment, and respectful speech. Merit is portrayed as inseparable from ethical conduct and reverence for the sources of knowledge.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra describes the qualities of people who are worthy of a high celestial destination—specifically a solar realm—emphasizing their conduct toward teachers and their steadfastness in vows and truth.