Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 25

The Appearance and Coronation of King Pṛthu (Pṛthu-avatāra) and His Humble Refusal of Premature Praise

Devanagari script

प्रभवो ह्यात्मन: स्तोत्रं जुगुप्सन्त्यपि विश्रुता: । ह्रीमन्त: परमोदारा: पौरुषं वा विगर्हितम् ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

prabhavo hy ātmanaḥ stotraṁ jugupsanty api viśrutāḥ hrīmantaḥ paramodārāḥ pauruṣaṁ vā vigarhitam

Translation

名誉と寛大さを備えた者が自らの卑しむべき行いを聞くのを好まぬように、きわめて名高く力ある者もまた、自分への賛美を聞くことを好まない。

Synonyms

• प्रभवः: great persons
• प्रभवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘great persons/authorities’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेतौ/निश्चयार्थे ‘indeed/for’

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• स्तोत्रम्: praise (of oneself)
• स्तोत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जुगुप्सन्ति: avoid/feel ashamed of
• जुगुप्सन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गुप्/जुगुप्सा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘feel disgust/avoid’

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘even’

• विश्रुताः: renowned
• विश्रुताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्रुत (कृदन्त; श्रु धातु with vi-)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘well-known’

• ह्रीमन्तः: modest
• ह्रीमन्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ह्रीमन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘modest/shy’

• परम-उदाराः: most noble
• परम-उदाराः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम + उदार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘supremely generous/noble’

• पौरुषम्: self-praise/boasting
• पौरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘self-praise/manliness (here: boasting)’

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थे ‘or’

• विगर्हितम्: blameworthy
• विगर्हितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विगर्हित (कृदन्त; गर्ह् धातु with vi-)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘censured’

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about humility and self-praise?

This verse teaches that truly great and famous persons feel aversion to hearing their own praise, and the genuinely modest avoid any self-display that could be considered blameworthy.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam 4.15.25 and in what context?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this while narrating Canto 4’s royal histories; the verse highlights saintly etiquette—real nobility is marked by humility, not self-advertisement.

How can I apply this Bhagavatam teaching in modern life?

Avoid self-promotion and ego-driven boasting; let character and service speak for themselves, and cultivate modesty and generosity as marks of real strength.