Shloka 28
Adhyāya 287 — Janaka’s Inquiry on Śreyas, Abhayadāna, and Asaṅga
Non-attachment
अब्रुवन् कस्यचिचन्निन्दामात्मपूजामवर्णयन् । विपश्चिद् गुणसम्पन्न: प्राप्नोत्येव महद् यश:
abruvan kasyacic chan-nindām ātma-pūjām avarṇayan | vipaścid guṇa-sampannaḥ prāpnoty eva mahad yaśaḥ ||
नारद ने कहा—जो न किसी की निन्दा करता है और न अपनी प्रशंसा करता है, वही गुणसम्पन्न विवेकी पुरुष महान् यश प्राप्त करता है। पर-निन्दा और आत्म-स्तुति से रहित वाणी ही दीर्घकालीन सम्मान का कारण बनती है।
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Great and enduring reputation arises from disciplined speech: do not disparage others (nindā) and do not praise oneself (ātma-pūjā). Wisdom and virtues become credible when expressed through humility and restraint.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction-oriented setting, Narada delivers a moral maxim about conduct. He identifies a mark of the truly wise person: refraining from both fault-finding and self-advertisement, which leads to genuine honor.