Shloka 19
Udyoga Parva, Adhyaya 104: Nārada on Suhṛt and Nirbandha; the Viśvāmitra–Gālava Exemplum Begins
गरुत्मन् मन्यसे55त्मानं बलवन्तं सुदुर्बलम् । अलमस्मत्समक्षं ते स्तोतुमात्मानमण्डज,कण्व मुनि कहते हैं--राजन्! गरुड़की ये बातें भयंकर परिणाम उपस्थित करनेवाली थीं। उन्हें सुनकर रथांगपाणि श्रीविष्णुने किसीसे क्षुब्ध न होनेवाले पश्षिराजको क्षुब्ध करते हुए कहा--“गरुत्मन्! तुम हो तो अत्यन्त दुर्बल, परंतु अपने-आपको बड़ा भारी बलवान् मानते हो। अण्डज! मेरे सामने फिर कभी अपनी प्रशंसा न करना
garutmān manyase ’tmānaṁ balavantaṁ sudurbalam | alam asmat-samakṣaṁ te stotum ātmānam aṇḍaja ||
କଣ୍ୱ କହିଲେ—“ଗରୁତ୍ମନ୍! ତୁମେ ସତ୍ୟରେ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦୁର୍ବଳ ହୋଇ ମଧ୍ୟ ନିଜକୁ ଅତି ବଳବାନ ଭାବୁଛ। ଅଣ୍ଡଜ! ଯଥେଷ୍ଟ—ମୋ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ଆଉ ନିଜ ପ୍ରଶଂସା କରନି।”
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse censures self-praise and deluded self-assessment. It teaches that pride (overestimating one’s strength or worth) is ethically dangerous, while humility and restraint in speech—especially before elders or the wise—protect one from harmful outcomes.
Kaṇva addresses Garuḍa sharply, telling him that despite being truly weak he imagines himself strong, and ordering him to stop praising himself in Kaṇva’s presence. The scene functions as a moral check on arrogance within a tense exchange.