Shloka 38
Atithi’s Direction to the Nāga-sage Padma at Naimiṣa (अतिथ्युपदेशः—नैमिषे पद्मनागोपाख्यानप्रस्तावः)
तान् दधीच उवाच स्वागतं भवद्धय उच्यतां कि क्रियतामिति यद् वक्ष्यथ तत् करिष्यामि,दधीचिने इन देवताओंसे कहा--“आपलोगोंका स्वागत है। बताइये, मैं आपकी क्या सेवा करूँ? आप जो कहेंगे, वही करूँगा”
tān dadhīca uvāca svāgataṁ bhavadbhya ucyatāṁ kiṁ kriyatām iti | yad vakṣyatha tat kariṣyāmi |
ദധീചി പറഞ്ഞു— “നിങ്ങൾക്കു സ്വാഗതം. പറയൂ—ഞാൻ എന്ത് ചെയ്യണം? നിങ്ങൾ പറയുന്നതെല്ലാം ഞാൻ ചെയ്യും।”
तास्त्वाष्ट उवाच क्व गमिष्यथास्यतां तावन्मया सह श्रेयो भविष्यन्तीति
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma expressed as respectful hospitality and selfless readiness to act for a worthy request: one should receive guests (especially the virtuous) with honor and offer help without ego or hesitation.
Sage Dadhīci addresses the visitors (implicitly the gods) with a formal welcome and asks what service he can render, promising to carry out whatever they request—setting the stage for a significant act of assistance.