Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
गौतम उवाच ततो<परे भान्ति लोका: सनातना: सुपुण्यगंधा विरजा विशोका: । वरुणस्य राज्ञ: सदने महात्मन- स्तत्र त्वाहं हस्तिनं यातयिष्ये
gautama uvāca | tato 'pare bhānti lokāḥ sanātanāḥ supuṇyagandhā virajā viśokāḥ | varuṇasya rājñaḥ sadane mahātmanaḥ tatra tvāhaṃ hastinaṃ yātayiṣye ||
Sinabi ni Gautama: “Lampas pa roon, may iba pang mga walang-hanggang daigdig na nagniningning—puspos ng halimuyak ng dakilang kabutihan, malaya sa alikabok ng pagnanasa at malaya sa dalamhati. Sa tahanan ng dakilang-hiningang haring Varuṇa ay may gayong mga kaharian. Pagdating ko roon, ipapabalik ko sa iyo—at kukunin kong muli—ang aking elepante.”
गौतम उवाच
The verse links moral purity with the quality of one’s realm of experience: worlds characterized by merit are described as ‘fragrant,’ free from rajas (stain/passion) and sorrow. It also implies that ethical order is enforceable—wrongful possession must be rectified, even by invoking higher authority and sacred realms.
Gautama describes radiant, eternal realms associated with Varuṇa and declares his intent to go there and compel the return of his elephant—framing the recovery as an act grounded in cosmic order and rightful restitution.