Shloka 53
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
हंस उवाच बहूनि पतितानि त्वमाचक्षाणो मुहुर्मुहु: । पातस्य व्याहरंश्वैंदं न नो गुहां प्रभाषसे
haṃsa uvāca bahūni patitāni tvam ācakṣāṇo muhur muhuḥ | pātasyā vyāharaṃś caiva idaṃ na no guhāṃ prabhāṣase ||
قالت البجعة: «لقد ظللتَ تذكر مرارًا وتكرارًا كثرةَ طيرانك. ولكنك حين وصفتَ تلك الطيرانات لم تُحدّثنا عن هذه—عن هذه الطيرانة التي تحمل معنى خفيًّا وسرًّا مكتومًا.»
हंस उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical discernment in speech: one may speak at length about achievements, yet omit the crucial ‘guhya’ (hidden) point. It implicitly critiques selective narration and urges honest, complete disclosure when a matter bears special moral or instructive significance.
In a bird-dialogue, the Swan addresses the Crow, noting that the Crow has repeatedly boasted or described many flights, but has not mentioned this particular flight whose significance is secret or deeply meaningful. The Swan presses the Crow to explain what was withheld.