Shloka 28
Adhyāya 223: Nāradasya Guṇa-kathana
Catalogue of Nārada’s Virtues
न त्वेतदनुरूपं ते यशसो वा कुलस्य च । समृद्धार्थोडसमृद्धार्थ यन्मां कत्थितुमिच्छसि
na tv etad anurūpaṃ te yaśaso vā kulasya ca | samṛddhārtho 'samṛddhārthaṃ yan māṃ katthitum icchasi ||
இது உன் புகழுக்கும் உன் குலத்திற்கும் ஏற்றதல்ல—நீ இப்போது செழிப்பில் இருந்து, செழிப்பை இழந்த என்ன்முன் தன்னைப் புகழ்ந்து பெருமை பேச விரும்புவது.
(भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that true nobility is shown through restraint and humility: boasting—especially before someone who has fallen into misfortune—violates the standards of dharma, damages one’s reputation (yaśas), and is unworthy of a good lineage (kula).
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction-setting, Bhishma rebukes a would-be speaker for trying to praise himself or speak boastfully in Bhishma’s presence, pointing out the impropriety of flaunting one’s current prosperity before someone who has lost his own.