Shloka 42
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
Devanagari script
हंसस्तु मृदुनैकेन विक्रान्तुमुपचक्रमे
Transliteration
haṃsastu mṛdunaikena vikrāntum upacakrame
Translation
Da begann der Schwan, mit nur einem sanften (doch wirksamen) Mittel, entschlossen zu handeln—darauf bedacht, die Lage nicht durch Härte, sondern durch maßvolle, kundige Anstrengung zu überwinden.
Word by Word
हंसःthe swan
हंसः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootहंस
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तुbut/indeed
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
मृदुनाwith (something) soft/gentle
मृदुना:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootमृदु
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular
एकेनwith one (alone)
एकेन:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootएक
FormMasculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular
विक्रान्तुम्to advance/stride forth
विक्रान्तुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootवि + क्रम्
FormInfinitive (Tumun), Parasmaipada (usage), to stride forth/to advance
उपचक्रमेbegan/undertook
उपचक्रमे:
TypeVerb
Rootउप + क्रम्
FormPerfect (Liṭ), Third, Singular, Atmanepada
Speaker
हंस उवाच
Characters & Entities
ह
हंस (Haṃsa, the swan)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
Effective action need not be harsh: the verse highlights a dharmic preference for achieving one’s aim through a gentle, well-chosen method—strength guided by restraint and discernment.
The speaker says that the swan begins to proceed/undertake a decisive move, choosing a single mild strategy to advance toward victory or resolution.