Shloka 16
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
गौतम उवाच वैवस्वती संयमनी जनानां यत्रानृतं नोच्यते यत्र सत्यम् । यत्राबला बलिनं यातयन्ति तत्र त्वाहं हस्तिनं यातयिष्ये
gautama uvāca—vaivasvatī saṃyamanī janānāṃ yatrānṛtaṃ noc्यate yatra satyam | yatrābalā balinaṃ yātayanti tatra tvāhaṃ hastinaṃ yātayiṣye ||
Sabi ni Gautama: “May isang lungsod na tinatawag na Saṃyamanī, kay Vaivasvata (Yama), ang tagapigil sa mga tao—doon ay hindi binibigkas ang kasinungalingan at katotohanan lamang ang sinasabi; doon, maging ang mahina ay makapagsusulit sa malakas dahil sa ginawang kasamaan. Doon kita pipilitin na isauli ang aking elepante.”
गौतम उवाच
Educational Q&A
A just moral order exists where truth prevails and wrongdoing is answerable regardless of power; even the weak can obtain justice when dharma is upheld.
Gautama invokes Yama’s city Saṃyamanī—depicted as a realm of truthful speech and impartial justice—and declares he will take the matter there to force restitution of his elephant.