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 ||
ສະຕະກຣະຕຸ (ອິນທຣາ) ກ່າວວ່າ: “ໂອ ພຣາຫມັນຜູ້ປະເສີດ! ລູກຂອງທ່ານ—ໂອ ນາກ—ກຳລັງເຂົ້າມາຫາທ່ານ ພ້ອມສາຍຕາເຄົາລົບ. ຍັງເອົາງວງດົມທີ່ຕີນທັງສອງຂອງທ່ານ ເພື່ອສະແດງຄວາມນ້ອມຕົນ. ຂໍທ່ານສອນຂ້າພະເຈົ້າເຖິງສິ່ງທີ່ເປັນປະໂຫຍດແທ້ແກ່ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ; ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຂໍນ້ອມນະມັດສະການທ່ານ.”
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.