Shloka 51
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
तस्मिन् विरजसि स्फीते प्रज्ञासत्त्वव्यवस्थिते । स्वयम्भुभवने पुण्ये हस्तिनं मे प्रदास्यसि
tasmin virajasi sphīte prajñāsattvavyavasthite | svayambhubhavane puṇye hastinaṁ me pradāsyasi ||
โคตมะกล่าวว่า “ในแดนอันบริสุทธิ์ไร้รชัสนั้น—รุ่งเรือง มั่นคงในปัญญาและสัตตวะ ในสถานสถิตอันเป็นบุญของสวะยัมภู—ที่นั่นเองเจ้าจักคืนช้างนี้แก่เรา.”
गौतम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links ethical obligation with spiritual attainment: even in a purified, sattva-established realm associated with Brahmā, one remains accountable for rightful ownership and must fulfill one’s duty to return what belongs to another.
Gautama addresses the other party and declares that in the holy, rajas-free abode of the Self-born (Brahmā), the elephant will have to be given back to him—framing the return as an inevitable moral reckoning tied to higher realms and merit.