Shloka 2
अध्याय ३४ — एलापत्रस्योपदेशः
Elāpatra’s Counsel on the Nāgas’ Deliverance
काम नैतत् प्रशंसन्ति सन्त: स्वबलसंस्तवम् । गुणसंकीर्तनं चापि स्वयमेव शतक्रतो,शतक्रतो! साधु पुरुष स्वेच्छासे अपने बलकी स्तुति और अपने ही मुखसे अपने गुणोंका बखान अच्छा नहीं मानते
kāma naitat praśaṃsanti santaḥ svabalasaṃstavam | guṇasaṃkīrtanaṃ cāpi svayam eva śatakrato śatakrato ||
Garuḍa nói: “Hỡi Śatakratu (Indra), bậc hiền nhân không tán đồng điều ấy: tự ca tụng sức mình, hay tự miệng mình kể công đức của mình. Tự khen mình không được xem là hạnh cao quý.”
गरुड उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches ethical restraint in speech: noble people do not approve of self-praise—neither boasting of one’s strength nor advertising one’s virtues. True excellence is shown through conduct and is better affirmed by others than by oneself.
Garuḍa addresses Indra (called Śatakratu) and rebukes the tone of self-assertion/boasting, reminding him of the standard of noble behavior: humility and avoidance of self-glorification.