Pride

śāstraṁ hy abuddhvā tattvena kecid vāda-balāj janāḥ

śāstraṁ hy abuddhvā tattvena kecid vāda-balāj janāḥ |
kāma-dveṣābhibhūtatvād ahaṅkāra-vaśaṁ gatāḥ ||
yāthātathyam avijñāya śāstrāṇāṁ śāstra-dasyavaḥ |
brahma-stenā nirārambhā dambha-moha-vaśānugāḥ ||
(Mahābhārata: Śānti-parva, 269.53)

“Not understanding śāstra accurately, some persons become captivated by arrogance (ahaṅkāra) on account of being overcome by desire or enmity on the strength of argument. Without knowing the truth of the śāstras, the robbers of the śāstras—thieves of Brahman—controlled by deceit and delusion, remain without undertaking [i.e., they do not take up the practices taught in the śāstras beginning with equanimity and so on].”

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nareṣv abhīkṣṇaṁ mad-bhāvaṁ puṁso bhāvayato’cirāt

nareṣv abhīkṣṇaṁ mad-bhāvaṁ puṁso bhāvayato’cirāt |
spardhāsūyā-tiraskārāḥ sāhaṅkārā viyanti hi ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 11.29.15)

“The rivalry [with peers], envy [towards superiors], and disdain [towards juniors], along with the egotism [i.e., pride in oneself], of a person who meditates on my constant presence in all human beings certainly vanishes before long.”

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na bhajati kumanīṣiṇāṁ sa ijyāṁ

na bhajati kumanīṣiṇāṁ sa ijyāṁ
harir adhanātma-dhana-priyo rasa-jñaḥ |
śruta-dhana-kula-karmaṇāṁ madair ye
vidadhati pāpam akiñcaneṣu satsu ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 4.31.21; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 301)

“The connoisseur of rasa, Hari, he to whom those who have no [worldly] wealth and whose wealth is the Self [i.e., the Ātmā, meaning, Hari himself] are dear, does not accept the worship of those of polluted intellect, who because of the intoxications of learning, wealth, family, and deeds, engage in wrong-doing in relation to sādhus who are without anything [i.e., free from any such intoxications and the pride and possessiveness that underlie them].”

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devaḥ sevyatayā yathā sphurati me devyas tathāsya priyāḥ

devaḥ sevyatayā yathā sphurati me devyas tathāsya priyāḥ
sarvaḥ prāṇa-samānatāṁ pracinute tad-bhakti-bhājāṁ gaṇaḥ |
smṛtvā sāhasikaṁ bibhemi tam ahaṁ bhaktābhimānonnataṁ
prītiṁ tat-praṇate khare’py avidadhad yaḥ svāsthyam ālambate ||
(Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu: 3.2.50)

“As Deva [i.e., Śrī Kṛṣṇa] appears [to me] as my object of service, so do his divine beloveds. The multitude of those possessed of bhakti to him are all considered [by me] equal to my very life. I become afraid [however] upon remembering that lout puffed up with the pride of being a bhakta who abides in contentment while failing to honor [i.e., express prīti towards] even a donkey bowed to him [i.e., Śrī Kṛṣṇa].”

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bhāgyodayena bahu-janma-samarjitena sat-saṅgamaṁ ca labhate puruṣo yadā vai

bhāgyodayena bahu-janma-samarjitena sat-saṅgamaṁ ca labhate puruṣo yadā vai |
ajñāna-hetu-kṛta-moha-madāndhakāra-nāśanaṁ vidhāya hi tadodayate vivekaḥ ||
(Padma Purāṇa: Bhāgavata-māhātmya: 2.76)

“When a person attains association with a sādhu as a result of good fortune acquired over the course of many lives, then discernment (viveka) arises and dispels the darkness of bewilderment and pride caused by ignorance.”

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sādhūnāṁ sama-cittānāṁ mukunda-caraṇaiṣiṇām

sādhūnāṁ sama-cittānāṁ mukunda-caraṇaiṣiṇām |
upekṣyaiḥ kiṁ dhana-stambhair asadbhir asad-āśrayaiḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 10.10.18)

“What purpose do sādhus who are of equal mind and desirous [only] of Mukunda’s feet have with those who are proud of wealth, asat, sheltered in the asat, and [thus] fit to be ignored?”

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paropadeśa-velāyāṁ śiṣṭāḥ sarve bhavanti vai

paropadeśa-velāyāṁ śiṣṭāḥ sarve bhavanti vai |
vismarantīha śiṣṭatvaṁ svakārye samupasthite ||
(Mahābhārata)

“At the time of giving advice to others, everyone is certainly wise [alt., cultured, proper, etc., or so they think]. When their own duty [alt., tasks, responsibility, difficulty, etc.] arises [however] they then forget all their wisdom [alt., culturedness, propriety, etc.].”

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vilajjamānayā yasya sthātum īkṣā-pathe’muyā

vilajjamānayā yasya sthātum īkṣā-pathe’muyā |
vimohitā vikatthante mamāham iti durdhiyaḥ ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 2.5.13)

“The ignorant, deluded by māyā, who is ashamed to stand in Vāsudeva’s purview, boast of ‘I’ and ‘mine’.”

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brahman yam anugṛhṇāmi tad viśo vidhunomy aham

brahman yam anugṛhṇāmi tad viśo vidhunomy aham |
yan madaḥ puruṣaḥ stabdho lokaṁ māṁ cāvamanyate ||
(Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: 8.22.24; cited in Prīti Sandarbha: 47)

“[Śrī Bhagavān:] O Brahmā, from one whom I favor I remove that wealth by which the person becomes proud, obstinate, and disrespectful towards the world and myself.”

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kāmaḥ krodhas tathā lobho harṣo māno madas tathā

kāmaḥ krodhas tathā lobho harṣo māno madas tathā |
ṣaḍ-vargam utsṛjed enaṁ tasmiṁs tyakte sukhī nṛpaḥ ||
(Hitopadeśa: Sandhi, 102)

“Give up the six enemies: lust, anger, greed, pleasure, egotism, and pride. O King, one who rejects them is happy in this world.”

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