Shloka 4
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
तात! इस विषयमें विज्ञ पुरुष इन्द्र और गौतम मुनिके संवादरूप प्राचीन इतिहासका उदाहरण दिया करते हैं ।। ब्राह्मणो गौतम: कश्रिन्मृदुर्दान्तो जितेन्द्रिय: । महावने हस्तिशिशुं परिद्यूनममातृकम्
tāta! asmin viṣaye vijñāḥ puruṣā indra-gautama-munyoḥ saṃvāda-rūpaṃ prācīnam itihāsam udāharaṇam dīyate. brāhmaṇo gautamaḥ kaścid mṛdur dānto jitendriyaḥ. mahāvane hastī-śiśuṃ paridyūnam amātṛkam.
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: “Mahal kong anak, tungkol dito’y binabanggit ng mga pantas ang isang sinaunang halimbawa—isang lumang salaysay na anyong pag-uusap nina Indra at ng pantas na si Gautama. Noon ay may isang Brahmin na nagngangalang Gautama, maamo, disiplinado, at may pagpipigil sa mga pandama. Sa isang malawak na gubat, nasalubong niya ang isang batang elepante, lupaypay at pagala-gala, na ulila sa ina.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma frames the ethical point through an authoritative precedent: learned tradition relies on ancient dialogue-stories (itihāsa) to clarify dharma. The verse also foregrounds the moral qualifications of the exemplar—gentleness, discipline, and sense-control—suggesting that right action arises from inner restraint and compassion.
Bhishma introduces an old story told as a conversation between Indra and Gautama. The scene is set by describing Gautama’s character and his encounter in a great forest with a distressed, motherless elephant calf—an incident that will prompt the ensuing ethical discussion.