अध्याय ३४ — एलापत्रस्योपदेशः
Elāpatra’s Counsel on the Nāgas’ Deliverance
काम नैतत् प्रशंसन्ति सन्त: स्वबलसंस्तवम् । गुणसंकीर्तनं चापि स्वयमेव शतक्रतो,शतक्रतो! साधु पुरुष स्वेच्छासे अपने बलकी स्तुति और अपने ही मुखसे अपने गुणोंका बखान अच्छा नहीं मानते
kāma naitat praśaṃsanti santaḥ svabalasaṃstavam | guṇasaṃkīrtanaṃ cāpi svayam eva śatakrato śatakrato ||
Garuḍa dit : «Ô Śatakratu (Indra), les hommes de bien n’approuvent pas ceci : louer sa propre force, ni célébrer de sa propre bouche ses propres vertus. L’éloge de soi n’est pas tenu pour une conduite noble.»
गरुड उवाच
The verse teaches ethical restraint in speech: noble people do not approve of self-praise—neither boasting of one’s strength nor advertising one’s virtues. True excellence is shown through conduct and is better affirmed by others than by oneself.
Garuḍa addresses Indra (called Śatakratu) and rebukes the tone of self-assertion/boasting, reminding him of the standard of noble behavior: humility and avoidance of self-glorification.