Shloka 40
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
गौतम उवाच प्राजापत्या: सन्ति लोका महान्तो नाकस्य पृषछ्ठे पुष्कला वीतशोका: । मनीषिता: सर्वलोकोद्धवानां तत्र त्वाहं हस्तिनं यातयिष्ये
gautama uvāca prājāpatyāḥ santi lokā mahānto nākasya pṛṣṭhe puṣkalā vītaśokāḥ | manīṣitāḥ sarvalokoddhavānāṃ tatra tvāhaṃ hastinaṃ yātayiṣye ||
گوتَم نے کہا—اے راجن! آسمان کی چوٹی پر پرجاپتی کے عظیم عالَم ہیں—فراواں، شاداب اور غم سے پاک۔ کائنات کے سبھی جاندار انہیں پانے کی آرزو رکھتے ہیں۔ میں وہیں جا کر تمہیں مجبور کروں گا کہ میرا ہاتھی واپس کرو۔
गौतम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames ethical accountability as inescapable: even the most exalted heavenly destinations are not beyond the reach of dharma. Wrongfully held property must be restored, and spiritual aspiration does not excuse injustice.
Gautama addresses a king and describes the lofty, sorrowless realms of Prajāpati at heaven’s summit. He declares that he will go there and compel the king to return the elephant—indicating a pursuit of rightful restitution across realms.