Shloka 21
गालवस्य विषादः तथा विष्णुप्रयाणम्
Gālava’s Despair and Resolve to Seek Viṣṇu
प्रीतो मधुरया वाचा विश्वामित्र॑ महाद्युतिम् । दक्षिणा: का: प्रयच्छामि भवते गुरुकर्मणि
prīto madhurayā vācā viśvāmitraṁ mahādyutim | dakṣiṇāḥ kāḥ prayacchāmi bhavate gurukarmaṇi ||
Nārada berkata: “Aku berbesar hati dengan kata-katamu yang manis, wahai Viśvāmitra yang bersinar gemilang; apakah dakṣiṇā yang patut aku persembahkan kepadamu sebagai upah bagi khidmat seorang guru?”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical gratitude and propriety in the guru–śiṣya (teacher–student) framework: sweet, respectful speech fosters goodwill, and sincere acknowledgment of guidance is expressed through an appropriate dakṣiṇā—an offering that honors the teacher’s role rather than treating knowledge as a commodity.
Nārada, pleased by Viśvāmitra’s gracious words, addresses him respectfully and asks what dakṣiṇā he should give in return for the guru’s service—framing their interaction within the norms of reverence, reciprocity, and dharmic conduct.