Shloka 21
Udyoga Parva, Adhyaya 104: Nārada on Suhṛt and Nirbandha; the Viśvāmitra–Gālava Exemplum Begins
इमं तावन्ममैकं त्वं बाहुं सवब्येतरं वह । यद्येनं धारयस्येक॑ सफलं ते विकत्थितम्,“अच्छा, पहले तुम मेरी केवल दाहिनी भुजाका भार वहन करो। यदि इस एकको ही धारण कर लोगे तो तुम्हारी यह सारी आत्मप्रशंसा सफल समझी जायगी'
imaṃ tāvan mamaikaṃ tvaṃ bāhuṃ savyetaraṃ vaha | yady enaṃ dhārayasy ekaṃ saphalaṃ te vikatthitam ||
Kaṇva berkata: “Kalau begitu, angkatlah terlebih dahulu satu lengan kananku ini. Jika engkau sanggup menanggung yang satu ini saja, barulah pujian dirimu itu layak dianggap terpenuhi.”
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
Boasting is validated only by demonstrated capacity; ethical speech requires restraint, and claims of prowess should be tested by real responsibility rather than mere self-praise.
Kaṇva challenges someone who has been boasting, proposing a concrete test: first bear the weight of his right arm; if the person can manage even that, their earlier bragging can be considered justified.