Nahūṣa’s Pride, the Ṛṣi-Borne Palanquin, and the Search for Indra (नहुष-इन्द्राणी-प्रकरणम्)
न मे तत्र गतिर्तब्रह्मन् किमन्यत् करवाणि ते । तमब्रवीद् देवगुरुरपो विश महाद्युते
na me tatra gatir brahman kim anyat karavāṇi te | tam abravīd devagurur apo viśa mahādyute brahman ||
Dia berkata, “Wahai Brahmin, aku tiada jalan untuk bergerak di sana (dalam unsur itu). Apakah khidmat lain yang harus aku lakukan untukmu?” Lalu guru para dewa menjawab, “Wahai yang amat bercahaya, wahai Brahmin—masuklah juga ke dalam air.”
शल्य उवाच
The verse highlights disciplined service and obedience to rightful instruction: when one feels incapable (“I have no passage there”), the teacher redirects the disciple toward a more demanding act, testing resolve and willingness to follow dharmic guidance beyond personal comfort.
Śalya expresses inability to proceed in a certain context and asks what else he should do for the addressed Brahmin. The devaguru (preceptor of the gods) responds with a direct command: to enter the waters, indicating a further trial or task to be undertaken.