Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.15.25
प्रभवो ह्यात्मन: स्तोत्रं जुगुप्सन्त्यपि विश्रुता: ।
ह्रीमन्त: परमोदारा: पौरुषं वा विगर्हितम् ॥ २५ ॥
prabhavo hy ātmanaḥ stotraṁ
[prabhavo hy aatmanah stotram]
jugupsanty api viśrutāḥ
[jugupsanty api vishrutaah]
hrīmantaḥ paramodārāḥ
[hreemantah paramodaaraah]
pauruṣaṁ vā vigarhitam
[paurusham vaa vigarhitam]
Word-for-word
prabhavaḥ
—
very powerful persons
hi
—
certainly
ātmanaḥ
—
of themselves
stotram
—
praise
jugupsanti
—
do not like
api
—
although
viśrutāḥ
—
very famous
hrī-mantaḥ
—
modest
parama-udārāḥ
—
very magnanimous persons
pauruṣam
—
powerful actions
vā
—
also
vigarhitam
—
abominable.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
prabhavo hy ātmanaḥ stotraṁ
prabhavaḥ
very powerful persons
jugupsanty api viśrutāḥ
hrīmantaḥ paramodārāḥ
pauruṣaṁ vā vigarhitam
hi
certainly
ātmanaḥ
of themselves
stotram
praise
jugupsanti
do not like
api
although
viśrutāḥ
very famous
hrī-mantaḥ
modest
parama-udārāḥ
very magnanimous persons
pauruṣam
powerful actions
vā
also
vigarhitam
abominable.
As a person with a sense of honor and magnanimity does not like to hear about his abominable actions, a person who is very famous and powerful does not like to hear himself praised.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Persons famous for good qualities, who are modest and generous, detest praise of themselves as if it were criticism of their abilities.
People who have good qualities, and who enjoy being praised are not seen. Vā means “like.” Praise like “This person is so qualified he doesn’t have to follow the rules of dharma” is rejected as censoring their abilities (vigarhitam pauruṣam).
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Honorable people don't want to hear about their abominable acts; truly famous and powerful people don't want to hear themselves praised either. The mature soul finds both extreme flattery and accusation equally distasteful.
Reflection Questions
- Where am I more comfortable with flattery than with accurate feedback?
- What does my reaction to praise reveal about how far my honor has actually matured?
My note
Source: vedabase.io