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The best persons are those who yearn to magnify the good qualities of others.

Though Srimad Bhagavatam is seen as a text on devotion, in reality, the 18,000 verses it contains embody multifaceted knowledge, bearing upon the characteristics, potential and excellence of human mind and its behaviour. The text treats devotion and spiritual wisdom as an inner pursuit of man. To instill, facilitate and strengthen the pursuit, the narration constantly provides a process of exposure and enlightenment, by means of alluring episodes. The following slokas are from the 4th skandha.

The adult mind rightfully resents grave ill-treatment by even the parent, especially when it crosses all limits. When Daksha openly insulted Shiva, his son-in-law, flouting all norms of propriety, Sati was unable to bear the insult. She immolated herself right on the scene. Before that, she lets the father know where he erred and at what cost –- an eye opener to all parents, a lasting value to the society as well!

दोषान् परेषां हि गुणेषु साधवो
गृह्णन्ति केचिन्न भवाद‍ृशो द्विज ।
गुणांश्च फल्गून् बहुलीकरिष्णवो
महत्तमास्तेष्वविदद्भवानघम् ॥

doṣān pareṣāṁ hi guṇeṣu sādhavo
gṛhṇanti kecin na bhavādṛśo dvija
guṇāṁś ca phalgūn bahulī-kariṣṇavo
mahattamās teṣv avidad bhavān agham
(Srimad Bhagavatam 4.4.12)

Those like you, O father, look only for the wrong amidst the good in others, while the good and the noble love to see and rejoice in the good alone in others. The best persons are those who yearn to magnify the good qualities of others. You have, in fact, found fault with such an exalted one (Lord Shiva), given to this latter virtue!

गुणाधिकान्मुदं लिप्सेदनुक्रोशं गुणाधमात् ।
मैत्रीं समानादन्विच्छेन्न तापैरभिभूयते ॥

guṇādhikān-mudaṁ lipsed-anukrośaṁ guṇādhamāt
maitrīṁ samānād-anvicchen-na tāpair-abhibhūyate
(Srimad Bhagavatam 4.8.34)

The best way to live in this world happily is to appreciate and congratulate any one with superior qualities, without envy. Towards those of lesser worth, one has to be considerate and sympathetic. And to those of equal worth and virtue, one should foster friendship. One will not suffer, if graced with such interactional values.

– From the Book Vicharasethu—Dec 2004