Shloka 25

The Appearance and Coronation of King Pṛthu (Pṛthu-avatāra) and His Humble Refusal of Premature Praise

Devanagari script

प्रभवो ह्यात्मन: स्तोत्रं जुगुप्सन्त्यपि विश्रुता: । ह्रीमन्त: परमोदारा: पौरुषं वा विगर्हितम् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

prabhavo hy ātmanaḥ stotraṁ jugupsanty api viśrutāḥ hrīmantaḥ paramodārāḥ pauruṣaṁ vā vigarhitam

Translation

Así como una persona honorable y magnánima no desea oír hablar de sus actos abominables, del mismo modo quien es muy célebre y poderoso no se complace en escuchar alabanzas dirigidas a sí mismo.

Synonyms

• प्रभवः: great persons
• प्रभवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘great persons/authorities’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेतौ/निश्चयार्थे ‘indeed/for’

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• स्तोत्रम्: praise (of oneself)
• स्तोत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जुगुप्सन्ति: avoid/feel ashamed of
• जुगुप्सन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गुप्/जुगुप्सा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘feel disgust/avoid’

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘even’

• विश्रुताः: renowned
• विश्रुताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्रुत (कृदन्त; श्रु धातु with vi-)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘well-known’

• ह्रीमन्तः: modest
• ह्रीमन्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ह्रीमन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘modest/shy’

• परम-उदाराः: most noble
• परम-उदाराः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + उदार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘supremely generous/noble’

• पौरुषम्: self-praise/boasting
• पौरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘self-praise/manliness (here: boasting)’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थे ‘or’

• विगर्हितम्: blameworthy
• विगर्हितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विगर्हित (कृदन्त; गर्ह् धातु with vi-)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘censured’

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about humility and self-praise?

This verse teaches that truly great and famous persons feel aversion to hearing their own praise, and the genuinely modest avoid any self-display that could be considered blameworthy.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam 4.15.25 and in what context?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this while narrating Canto 4’s royal histories; the verse highlights saintly etiquette—real nobility is marked by humility, not self-advertisement.

How can I apply this Bhagavatam teaching in modern life?

Avoid self-promotion and ego-driven boasting; let character and service speak for themselves, and cultivate modesty and generosity as marks of real strength.