Shloka 25
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
गौतम उवाच यत्रोत्तरा: कुरवो भांति रम्या देवै: सार्थ मोदमाना नरेन्द्र । यत्राग्नियौनाश्ष॒ वसंति लोका अब्योनय: पर्वतयोनयश्नल
gautama uvāca | yatrottarāḥ kuravo bhānti ramyā devaiḥ sārthaṃ modamānā narendra | yatrāgni-yonāś ca vasanti lokā ab-yonayaḥ parvata-yonayaś ca ||
गौतम उवाच—नरेन्द्र! यत्रोत्तराः कुरवो रम्यरूपा देवैः सार्धं मोदमाना विराजन्ते, यत्राग्निजा आप्यजा गिरिजाश्च दिव्याः प्रजाः निवसन्ति; यत्र शक्रः सर्वकामान् वर्षति, यत्र स्त्रियः स्वेच्छाचारिण्यो भवन्ति, यत्र च नारीनरयोः सर्वथा ईर्ष्या न विद्यते—तत्र गत्वाहं त्वत्तो हस्तिनं पुनरादास्ये।
गौतम उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.
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.