Shloka 27

Adhyāya 287 — Janaka’s Inquiry on Śreyas, Abhayadāna, and Asaṅga

Non-attachment

Devanagari script

अनूच्यमानास्तु पुनस्ते मन्यन्तु महाजनात्‌ | गुणवत्तरमात्मानं स्वेन मानेन दर्पिता:,यदि उनको उत्तर दिया जाय तो फिर वे घमंडमें भरकर अपने-आपको महापुरुषोंसे भी अधिक गुणवान्‌ मानने लगें

Transliteration

anūcyamānās tu punas te manyantu mahājanāt | guṇavattaram ātmānaṁ svena mānena darpitāḥ ||

Translation

Nārada nói: Nếu cứ đáp trả họ hết lần này đến lần khác, họ có thể phồng lên vì kiêu mạn và, theo sự tự đánh giá của mình, lại cho rằng bản thân đức hạnh và tài năng hơn cả những bậc vĩ nhân chân chính. Vì vậy, hãy thận trọng khi trả lời kẻ hư danh, kẻo lời đáp nuôi lớn ngạo mạn của họ hơn là mở mang hiểu biết.

Word by Word

• अनूच्यमानाः: being replied to / being answered
• अनूच्यमानाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनूच्य (अनु + वच्)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तु: but
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• पुनः: again / further
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मन्यन्ते: think / consider
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Atmanepada

• महाजनात्: than the great people / from the multitude of great men
• महाजनात्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाजन
• Form: Masculine, Ablative, Singular

• गुणवत्तरम्: more virtuous / superior in qualities
• गुणवत्तरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुणवत्तर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आत्मानम्: themselves
• आत्मानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• स्वेन: by their own
• स्वेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• मानेन: by pride / by self-esteem / by honor
• मानेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• दर्पिताः: puffed up / arrogant
• दर्पिताः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दर्पित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• mahājana (the great/wise)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A reply is not always beneficial: answering the conceited can strengthen their ego, leading them to overrate themselves even above the truly virtuous. Ethical speech includes restraint—speaking only when it will genuinely aid understanding and humility.

What is happening in the narrative?

Narada is giving counsel about dealing with people who are prone to vanity. He warns that engaging them with repeated answers may embolden their pride, so one should respond discerningly rather than automatically.