Then his wife said to him: 'This student, who is quite exhausted (with austerities), has carefully tended your fires. Let not the fires themselves blame you, but teach him.' The teacher, however, went away on a journey without having taught him.

In plain words: Satyakama's wife urges him to teach the worn-out student who has cared for his fires so well. But Satyakama leaves on a journey without teaching him.