Shloka 90
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 3 — Janamejaya’s Rite, Dhaumya’s Parīkṣā, and Uttanka’s Kuṇḍala Quest (सर्पसत्रप्रस्तावना–गुरुपरीक्षा–उत्तङ्कोपाख्यान)
स एवमुक्त: प्रत्युवाच किं ते प्रियं करवाणीति, एवमाहु:,गुरुके ऐसा कहनेपर उत्तंक बोले--“भगवन्! मैं आपका कौन-सा प्रिय कार्य करूँ? वृद्ध पुरुष कहते भी हैं
sa evam uktaḥ pratyuvāca: kiṁ te priyaṁ karavāṇīti; evam āhuḥ.
Ainsi interpellé, il répondit à son tour : « Vénérable maître, quel service agréable puis-je accomplir pour toi ? » Car les anciens le disent : aux paroles du guru, il faut répondre avec empressement à servir et à rendre l’enseignement par des actes de respect.
राम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical ideal of the student’s readiness to serve the teacher: learning is to be met with gratitude, humility, and a willingness to perform what is beneficial or pleasing to the guru, in line with the counsel of elders and tradition.
In the Uttanka episode, after being addressed by his teacher, the disciple responds by asking what service he can perform—an opening that leads into the request for a specific task (often framed as guru-dakṣiṇā or a test of obedience and resolve).