Adhyāya 287 — Janaka’s Inquiry on Śreyas, Abhayadāna, and Asaṅga
Non-attachment
अब्रुवन् कस्यचिचन्निन्दामात्मपूजामवर्णयन् । विपश्चिद् गुणसम्पन्न: प्राप्नोत्येव महद् यश:,परंतु जो दूसरे किसीकी निन््दा तथा अपनी प्रशंसा नहीं करता, ऐसा उत्तम गुणसम्पन्न विद्वान् पुरुष ही महान् यशका भागी होता है
abruvan kasyacic chan-nindām ātma-pūjām avarṇayan | vipaścid guṇa-sampannaḥ prāpnoty eva mahad yaśaḥ ||
قال ناردَة: إن الحكيم الفاضل ينال صيتًا عظيمًا—وهو الذي لا يتكلم بذمّ أحد، ولا يسترسل في مدح نفسه. فهذه العفّة في القول، القائمة على البصيرة وحسن الخصال، تكون سببًا أخلاقيًّا لشرفٍ باقٍ.
नारद उवाच
Great and enduring reputation arises from disciplined speech: do not disparage others (nindā) and do not praise oneself (ātma-pūjā). Wisdom and virtues become credible when expressed through humility and restraint.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction-oriented setting, Narada delivers a moral maxim about conduct. He identifies a mark of the truly wise person: refraining from both fault-finding and self-advertisement, which leads to genuine honor.