Shloka 9
कण्वोपदेशः—नश्वरबलविवेकः तथा मातलिगुणकेश्याः आख्यानारम्भः
Kaṇva’s Counsel on Impermanent Power; Opening of the Mātali–Guṇakeśī Narrative
तं च वैद्या अकृपणा ब्राह्मणा: सर्वतो5भया: । प्रत्यषेधन्त राजानं श्लाघमानं पुन: पुन:
taṃ ca vaidyā akṛpaṇā brāhmaṇāḥ sarvato'bhayāḥ | pratyaṣedhanta rājānaṃ ślāghamānaṃ punaḥ punaḥ ||
And those learned, unselfish Brāhmaṇas—fearless on every side—repeatedly restrained the king as he kept praising himself again and again.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even a king should accept restraint and correction from wise, disinterested counselors; repeated self-praise or insistence must yield to dharma-guided advice.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that learned and fearless Brāhmaṇas repeatedly stop the king when he keeps praising something again and again, indicating a moment of counsel and ethical checking.