Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 25
The Appearance and Coronation of King Pṛthu (Pṛthu-avatāra) and His Humble Refusal of Premature Praise
प्रभवो ह्यात्मन: स्तोत्रं जुगुप्सन्त्यपि विश्रुता: । ह्रीमन्त: परमोदारा: पौरुषं वा विगर्हितम् ॥ २५ ॥
prabhavo hy ātmanaḥ stotraṁ jugupsanty api viśrutāḥ hrīmantaḥ paramodārāḥ pauruṣaṁ vā vigarhitam
De même qu’un homme d’honneur et magnanime n’aime pas entendre le récit de ses actes blâmables, de même celui qui est très célèbre et puissant n’aime pas entendre sa propre louange.
FAQs
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.
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.
Avoid self-promotion and ego-driven boasting; let character and service speak for themselves, and cultivate modesty and generosity as marks of real strength.