Shloka 22
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
हंया ऊचु: वयं हंसाश्चरामेमां पृथिवीं मानसौकस: । पक्षिणां च वयं नित्यं दूरपातेन पूजिता:
haṁsā ūcuḥ—vayaṁ haṁsāś carāma imāṁ pṛthivīṁ mānasaukasaḥ | pakṣiṇāṁ ca vayaṁ nityaṁ dūrapātena pūjitāḥ ||
Die Schwäne sprachen: „O Krähe, wir sind Schwäne, die am See Mānasa (Mānasarovara) wohnen. Wir durchstreifen diese Erde, und unter den Vögeln werden wir seit langem in Ehren gehalten, weil wir weit zu fliegen vermögen.“
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how social honor can arise from a perceived excellence (here, the swans’ ability to fly far), while also hinting at the ethical risk of pride based on status or reputation.
In a framed dialogue narrated by Sañjaya, the swans introduce themselves to a crow, identifying their home as Mānasarovara and asserting their long-standing respect among birds due to their far-ranging flight.