Final answer:
Siduri advises Gilgamesh to embrace the pleasures of life and his mortal responsibilities instead of seeking eternal life, helping him to return home a wiser king.
Step-by-step explanation:
In The Epic of Gilgamesh, Siduri gives advice to Gilgamesh that instead of seeking eternal life, he should focus on the joys and responsibilities of the human condition.
She suggests that he should revel in the pleasures of life, like enjoying good food, wearing fresh clothes, cherishing the children he has, and making his wife happy. This advice underscores the theme of accepting one's mortality and making the most of the time one has.
Siduri's counsel reflects a wisdom that emphasizes present happiness over the futile pursuit of immortality, which aligns with the broader philosophical concerns about the human condition evident in ancient Mesopotamian literature.
Her guidance helps Gilgamesh to eventually accept his mortality and return to Uruk to be a wiser and better king, focusing on his legacy and the well-being of his people.