Mahabharata 8: Nobles Fall Not For Faults Four-Fold Poem by Aniruddha Pathak

Cursing own self out of key,
Nor self-singing like drone bee,
Slur nor smear of others off keys,
Nor yet indulging in their praise;
The noble with conduct of gold
Never fall for these faults four-fold.
____________________________________________
Here is the transliteration of the original verse:

ātma-nindāātma-pūjā cha para-nindā para-stavah |
an-ācharitam āryāņāmvŗttam etat chaturvidham || sabhā 44-24 ||

Scoundrels often quote scriptures as they say. The scene at the Raj-sooya yajna at Indra-prastha: Guests are welcomed and seated. As per the prevailing tradition then, the most prominent among the invitees is honoured to initiate this ceremony. When some one suggested the name of Bheeshma, the grand old sire, Shishupal had had reservations. He felt he should have been the choice. He felt, Bheeshma was forced to praise the providers of his job and daily bread, but note my words: four types of behaviour are condemnable. Hate and arrogance had overtaken his sense of discretion. But he quotes this norm for right conduct in this verse.