न मे तत्र गतिर्तब्रह्मन् किमन्यत् करवाणि ते । तमब्रवीद् देवगुरुरपो विश महाद्युते,ब्रह्म! जलमें मेरी गति नहीं है। इसके सिवा तुम्हारा दूसरा कौन कार्य मैं करूँ? तब देवगुरुने कहा--“महाद्युते! आप जलमें भी प्रवेश कीजिये”
na me tatra gatir brahman kim anyat karavāṇi te | tam abravīd devagurur apo viśa mahādyute brahman ||
Śalya said, “O Brahmin, I have no way of proceeding there (in that element). What other service shall I perform for you?” Then the preceptor of the gods replied, “O greatly radiant one, O Brahmin—enter the waters as well.”
शल्य उवाच
The verse highlights disciplined service and obedience to rightful instruction: when one feels incapable (“I have no passage there”), the teacher redirects the disciple toward a more demanding act, testing resolve and willingness to follow dharmic guidance beyond personal comfort.
Śalya expresses inability to proceed in a certain context and asks what else he should do for the addressed Brahmin. The devaguru (preceptor of the gods) responds with a direct command: to enter the waters, indicating a further trial or task to be undertaken.