Shloka 3
अध्याय ३४ — एलापत्रस्योपदेशः
Elāpatra’s Counsel on the Nāgas’ Deliverance
सखेति कृत्वा तु सखे पृष्टो वक्ष्याम्यहं त्वया | न हाात्मस्तवसंयुक्तं वक्तव्यमनिमित्तत:,किंतु सखे! तुमने मित्र मानकर पूछा है, इसलिये मैं बता रहा हूँ; क्योंकि अकारण ही अपनी प्रशंसासे भरी हुई बात नहीं कहनी चाहिये (किंतु किसी मित्रके पूछनेपर सच्ची बात कहनेमें कोई हर्ज नहीं है।)
sakheti kṛtvā tu sakhe pṛṣṭo vakṣyāmy ahaṃ tvayā | na hy ātmastava-saṃyuktaṃ vaktavyam animittataḥ ||
Because you have addressed me as a friend and questioned me in that spirit, I will answer you. For one should not, without proper cause, speak words that amount to self-praise; yet when a true friend asks, there is no fault in stating the truth.
गरुड उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should avoid speaking self-praise without necessity; restraint in speech is ethical. However, when a trusted friend sincerely asks, stating the truth about oneself is permissible and not blameworthy.
Garuda responds to a question posed by someone who addresses him as a friend. He prefaces his reply by explaining why he will speak: not out of vanity, but because a friend has asked, providing a proper reason to answer.