FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.15.24

महद्गुणानात्मनि कर्तुमीश: क: स्तावकै: स्तावयतेऽसतोऽपि । तेऽस्याभविष्यन्निति विप्रलब्धो जनावहासं कुमतिर्न वेद ॥ २४ ॥
mahad-guṇān ātmani kartum īśaḥ
[mahad-gunaan aatmani kartum eeshah]
kaḥ stāvakaiḥ stāvayate ’sato ’pi
[kah staavakaih staavayate ’sato ’pi]
te ’syābhaviṣyann iti vipralabdho
[te ’syaabhavishyann iti vipralabdho]
janāvahāsaṁ kumatir na veda
[janaavahaasam kumatir na veda]
Word-for-word
mahat — exalted guṇān — the qualities ātmani — in himself kartum — to manifest īśaḥ — competent kaḥ — who stāvakaiḥ — by followers stāvayate — causes to be praised asataḥ — not existing api — although te — they asya — of him abhaviṣyan — might have been iti — thus vipralabdhaḥ — cheated jana — of people avahāsam — insult kumatiḥ — a fool na — does not veda — know.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
mahad-guṇān ātmani kartum īśaḥ
mahat
exalted
guṇān
the qualities
ātmani
in himself
kartum
to manifest
īśaḥ
competent
kaḥ stāvakaiḥ stāvayate ’sato ’pi
kaḥ
who
stāvakaiḥ
by followers
stāvayate
causes to be praised
te ’syābhaviṣyann iti vipralabdho
janāvahāsaṁ kumatir na veda
asataḥ
not existing
api
although
te
they
asya
of him
abhaviṣyan
might have been
iti
thus
vipralabdhaḥ
cheated
jana
of people
avahāsam
insult
kumatiḥ
a fool
na
does not
veda
know.
How could an intelligent man competent enough to possess such exalted qualities allow his followers to praise him if he did not actually have them? Praising a man by saying that if he were educated he might have become a great scholar or great personality is nothing but a process of cheating. A foolish person who agrees to accept such praise does not know that such words simply insult him.
Purport

Pṛthu Mahārāja was an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as Lord Brahmā and other demigods had already testified when they had presented the King with many heavenly gifts. Because he had just been coronated, however, he could not manifest his godly qualities in action. Therefore he was not willing to accept the praise of the devotees. So-called incarnations of Godhead should therefore take lessons from the behavior of King Pṛthu. Demons without godly qualities should not accept false praise from their followers.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
What person who has the qualities of the Lord would have others praise him? What to speak of a person who does not have the qualities! The fool does not understand that he is the butt of a joke, mocked by the promise of having such qualities in the future. “But you are the Supreme Lord, worthy of praise.” Though it is possible for the best person to manifest in himself qualities of the Lord, what wise person would make others glorify him? No one would do that, even if he has the qualities. If he does not have the qualities, and cannot manifest such qualities, only a fool would have others praise him. That fool does not know it is an insult. How? By words like “If he had studies arts and scripture he would have been a great scholar” he is mocked by others.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Praising a man for what he doesn't possess is cheating; fools who accept it are like uncovered, wandering men who feel clothed. Inflated praise is not flattering — it is dressing up a naked person and walking him into public.
Reflection Questions
  • Where have I let myself be 'dressed up' by praise I privately know is hollow?
  • Whose flattery should I refuse, even at the cost of social awkwardness?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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