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
imaṃ tāvan mamaikaṃ tvaṃ bāhuṃ savyetaraṃ vaha | yady enaṃ dhārayasy ekaṃ saphalaṃ te vikatthitam ||
Sabi ni Kaṇva: “Kung gayon—una, buhatin mo muna ang iisa kong bisig na ito, ang kanang bisig. Kung kaya mong pasanin kahit ito lamang, saka maituturing na natupad ang iyong mapagmalaking pagpuri sa sarili.”
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.