Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 22
The Appearance and Coronation of King Pṛthu (Pṛthu-avatāra) and His Humble Refusal of Premature Praise
पृथुरुवाच भो: सूत हे मागध सौम्य वन्दिँ- ल्लोकेऽधुनास्पष्टगुणस्य मे स्यात् । किमाश्रयो मे स्तव एष योज्यतां मा मय्यभूवन्वितथा गिरो व: ॥ २२ ॥
pṛthur uvāca bhoḥ sūta he māgadha saumya vandiḻ loke ’dhunāspaṣṭa-guṇasya me syāt kim āśrayo me stava eṣa yojyatāṁ mā mayy abhūvan vitathā giro vaḥ
普利图王说道：“噢，温和的苏多、摩伽陀与颂赞者啊！你们所称述的德行，如今在我身上尚未分明显现。既非我所具，何以将此赞颂系于我身？我不愿你们的言辞因我而落空；不如将这些赞词奉献给更为相称之人。”
The prayers and praises by the sūta, māgadha and vandī all explained the godly qualities of Mahārāja Pṛthu, for he was a śaktyāveśa incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because the qualities were not yet manifest, however, King Pṛthu very humbly asked why the devotees should praise him with such exalted words. He did not want anyone to offer him prayers or glorify him unless he possessed the real qualities of which they spoke. The offering of prayers was certainly appropriate, for he was an incarnation of Godhead, but he warned that one should not be accepted as an incarnation of the Personality of Godhead without having the godly qualities. At the present moment there are many so-called incarnations of the Personality of Godhead, but these are merely fools and rascals whom people accept as incarnations of God although they have no godly qualities. King Pṛthu desired that his real characteristics in the future might justify such words of praise. Although there was no fault in the prayers offered, Pṛthu Mahārāja indicated that such prayers should not be offered to an unfit person who pretends to be an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
FAQs
In this verse, King Pṛthu questions the basis of praise before his virtues are visibly established, showing that true greatness is accompanied by humility and concern for truth.
Because the bards were offering eulogies, and Pṛthu wanted their praise to be grounded in real, demonstrated qualities so their words would not become untrue.
Seek recognition only after genuine merit and service; speak and accept praise responsibly, prioritizing truthfulness and character over image.