Shloka 58
Gautama–Śakra Saṃvāda: Karma, Loka-bheda, and the Restoration of the Elephant
शतक्रतुरुवाच अयं सुतस्ते द्विजमुख्य नाग आगच्छति त्वामभिवीक्षमाण: । पादौ च ते नासिकयोपजिदध्रते श्रेयो ममाध्याहि नमश्न ते5स्तु
śatakratur uvāca ayaṃ sutas te dvijamukhya nāga āgacchati tvām abhivīkṣamāṇaḥ | pādau ca te nāsikayopajighrate śreyo mamādhyāhi namaś ca te 'stu ||
សតក្រតុ (ឥន្ទ្រ) បានមានព្រះបន្ទូលថា៖ «ឱ ព្រាហ្មណ៍ប្រសើរបំផុត! កូនរបស់លោក—ឱ នាគ—កំពុងមករកលោក ដោយសម្លឹងមើលដោយក្តីគោរព។ គាត់សូម្បីតែយកច្រមុះស្ទាបស្ទង់ជើងទាំងពីររបស់លោក ដើម្បីបង្ហាញការចុះចាញ់។ សូមលោកបង្រៀនខ្ញុំអំពីអ្វីដែលជាកុសលសម្រាប់ខ្ញុំ; ខ្ញុំសូមក្រាបថ្វាយបង្គំលោក»។
गौतम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds śreyas (true welfare) as something to be learned through humble approach to a worthy teacher. Even a powerful figure like Indra seeks instruction with reverence, implying that ethical clarity and spiritual good arise from disciplined listening and respect for dharma-knowledge.
Indra (Śatakratu) addresses Gautama, noting that Gautama’s son—described as a Nāga—approaches respectfully and shows submission by sniffing the sage’s feet. Indra then requests Gautama to teach him what is beneficial (śreyas) and offers salutations.