Shloka 15
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
एताभि: सह सम्मन्त्र्य प्रवक्ष्याम्यनुपूर्वश: । प्रभवन् यो5नहंवादी स वै पुरुष उच्यते
etābhiḥ saha sammantrya pravakṣyāmy anupūrvaśaḥ | prabhavan yo 'nahaṃvādī sa vai puruṣa ucyate ||
Having deliberated together with these (principles/virtues), I shall explain them in due order. He who is capable and influential, yet does not speak with self-asserting pride (‘I, I’), is truly called a worthy person.
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
True worth is marked by humility: even a capable and influential person is called a ‘puruṣa’ (a truly worthy person) when he avoids egoistic, self-advertising speech and does not indulge in ‘I’-centered boasting.
Maheśvara indicates that he will present a set of teachings in orderly sequence after deliberation with ‘these’—i.e., the previously mentioned considerations or virtues—then highlights one defining trait of an ideal person: influence without arrogance.