Shloka 27
Adhyāya 287 — Janaka’s Inquiry on Śreyas, Abhayadāna, and Asaṅga
Non-attachment
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
anūcyamānās tu punas te manyantu mahājanāt | guṇavattaram ātmānaṁ svena mānena darpitāḥ ||
那罗陀说道：若一再回击他们，他们反会因自负而愈加膨胀，凭着自我估量，竟自认德才胜过真正的伟人。故答复虚荣之徒须当谨慎，免得言语成了滋养其傲慢之薪，而非启迪其明悟之灯。
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.
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.