कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
प्राणै्ँस प्रपद्ये त्वां द्वीपान्तं प्रापपस्व माम् । यद्यहं स्वस्तिमान् हंस स्वं देशं प्राप्तुयां प्रभो
kāka uvāca | prāṇaiḥ prapadye tvāṃ dvīpāntaṃ prāpaya sva mām | yady ahaṃ svastimān haṃsa svaṃ deśaṃ prāptuyāṃ prabho ||
কাক ক’লে—“প্ৰাণসহ মই তোমাৰ শৰণ ল’লোঁ। মোক দ্বীপৰ সিপাৰৰ তীৰলৈ পোহঁচাই দিয়া। হে প্ৰভু হাঁহ! যদি মই কুশলে নিজৰ দেশলৈ পোহঁচিব পাৰোঁ…”
काक उवाच
The verse foregrounds śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge): in danger, one appeals to a capable and noble protector, acknowledging dependence and requesting safe passage. Ethically, it highlights humility, trust, and the hope for protection grounded in the helper’s virtue.
A crow addresses a swan, pleading for rescue: it surrenders ‘with its life’ and asks to be carried to the far side of an island so it may return safely to its own land.