Text 25] King Prthu’s Appearance and Coronation 637

mahat—exalted; gunan—the qualities; dtmani—in himself; kartum—to
manifest; isah—competent; kah—who; stavakaih—by followers; stavayate—
causes to be praised; asatah—not existing; api—although; te—they ; asya—of
him; abhavisyan—might have been; iti—thus; vipralabdhah—cheated; jana—
of people; avahdsam—insult; kumatih—a fool; na—does not; veda—know.

TRANSLATION

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

Prthu Maharaja was an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead, as Lord Brahma and other demigods had already testified when
they had presented the King 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 Prthu. Demons without godly qualities should not
accept false praise from their followers.

TEXT 25
TAA OTA: RH TAAL FAT: |
Steet: Tear: Ted at Paar 4H
prabhavo hy atmanah stotram.
jJugupsanty api visrutah
hrimantah paramodarah
paurusam va vigarhitam

prabhavah—very powerful persons; hi—certainly;@tmanah—of themselves;
stotram—praise; jugupsanti-do not like; api—although; visrutah—very
famous; hrimantah—modest; parama-udarah—very magnanimous persons;
paurusam—powerful actions; vd—also; vigarhitam—abominable.
