Shloka 25
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
गौतम उवाच यत्रोत्तरा: कुरवो भांति रम्या देवै: सार्थ मोदमाना नरेन्द्र । यत्राग्नियौनाश्ष॒ वसंति लोका अब्योनय: पर्वतयोनयश्नल
gautama uvāca | yatrottarāḥ kuravo bhānti ramyā devaiḥ sārthaṃ modamānā narendra | yatrāgni-yonāś ca vasanti lokā ab-yonayaḥ parvata-yonayaś ca ||
乔达摩说道：“大王啊，有一处境界，北俱卢人以可喜的妙丽而熠熠生辉，与诸天同处而欢悦。其间居住着奇异的众生——有的生于火，有的生于水，有的生于山岳。待我前往那片国土——因陀罗降下满足一切愿望之雨，女子随心所欲而行，男女之间全无嫉妒——那时我便要从你这里取回我的大象。”
गौतम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the moral force of a sage’s vow and the principle of rightful restitution: Gautama sets a clear condition for reclaiming what is his, while also contrasting ordinary human society with an ideal realm marked by abundance and the absence of jealousy—implying that ethical harmony is a higher good than mere enjoyment.
Gautama addresses a king and describes the wondrous land of Uttara-Kuru, where divine-like beings live and all desires are fulfilled under Indra’s beneficence. He declares that after going there, he will return to take back his elephant—framing his claim as a firm, time-bound resolve.