Shloka 27
Adhyāya 287 — Janaka’s Inquiry on Śreyas, Abhayadāna, and Asaṅga
Non-attachment
अनूच्यमानास्तु पुनस्ते मन्यन्तु महाजनात् | गुणवत्तरमात्मानं स्वेन मानेन दर्पिता:,यदि उनको उत्तर दिया जाय तो फिर वे घमंडमें भरकर अपने-आपको महापुरुषोंसे भी अधिक गुणवान् मानने लगें
anūcyamānās tu punas te manyantu mahājanāt | guṇavattaram ātmānaṁ svena mānena darpitāḥ ||
Nārada dit : Si on leur répond sans cesse, ils peuvent s’enfler d’orgueil et, selon leur propre mesure, en venir à se croire plus vertueux et plus capables que les véritables grands. Il faut donc être prudent en répondant aux vains, de peur qu’une réplique ne nourrisse leur arrogance plutôt que leur intelligence.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A reply is not always beneficial: answering the conceited can strengthen their ego, leading them to overrate themselves even above the truly virtuous. Ethical speech includes restraint—speaking only when it will genuinely aid understanding and humility.
Narada is giving counsel about dealing with people who are prone to vanity. He warns that engaging them with repeated answers may embolden their pride, so one should respond discerningly rather than automatically.