Shloka 8
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
कठोर व्रतका पालन करनेवाले महातपस्वी गौतमने उस हाथीका अपहरण होता देख राजा धृतराष्ट्रसे कहा-- ।।
bhīṣma uvāca — mā meḍhārṣī histin putram enaṁ duḥkhāt puṣṭaṁ dhṛtarāṣṭrākṛtajña | maitraṁ satāṁ saptapadaṁ vadanti mitradroho maiva rājan spṛśet tvām ||
Sinabi ni Bhishma: “Si Gautama, ang dakilang asceta na mahigpit sa panata, nang makita ang elepanteng inaagaw, ay nagsabi kay Haring Dhritarashtra: ‘O Dhritarashtra, haring walang utang-na-loob! Huwag mong kunin ang elepanteng ito—para ko itong anak. Sa matinding hirap ko siya pinalaki. Sinasabi ng mabubuti na ang pagkakaibigan ay nabubuo sa paglakad na magkasama ng pitong hakbang; sa bigkis na iyon, magkaibigan tayo. Kung dadalhin mo ang elepante ko, sasapitin mo ang kasalanan ng pagtataksil sa kaibigan. Sikapin mong huwag mapasaiyo ang gayong sala, O hari.’”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns that taking what belongs to a friend—especially after receiving goodwill—constitutes mitradroha (betrayal of friendship). It emphasizes gratitude (kṛtajñatā) and the ethical duty of a king to avoid actions that incur moral fault.
The ascetic Gautama sees his elephant being seized and addresses King Dhritarashtra, pleading that the elephant is like his son, raised with hardship. He invokes the traditional idea that even seven steps together establish friendship, and cautions the king that confiscating the elephant would be a sinful breach of that bond.