Shloka 143
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
सदृशान् पक्षिणो दृप्त: श्रेयसश्नाधिचिक्षिपे | वैश्यके बालकोंद्वारा जूऊन खिला-खिलाकर पाला हुआ वह कौआ बड़े घमंडमें भरकर अपने समान तथा अपनेसे श्रेष्ठ पक्षियोंका भी अपमान करने लगा
sadṛśān pakṣiṇo dṛptaḥ śreyasaś cādhicikṣipe | vaiśyake bālakair dvārā jūūnaṃ khilā-khilā-kṛtya pālito 'sau kākaḥ mahā-garveṇa pūritaḥ sva-sadṛśān svaśreṣṭhān api pakṣiṇaḥ paribhavitum ārabdhavān |
Sañjaya said: “That crow, reared in a merchant’s household by children who fed it playfully, grew swollen with pride. In its arrogance it began to insult birds like itself—and even those superior to it.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Pride born of indulgence and unearned attention leads to disrespect of equals and superiors; true worth requires humility and discernment about one’s place and limits.
Sañjaya describes a crow raised by children in a merchant’s home; becoming overconfident, it begins to mock and insult other birds, including those better than itself—serving as a moral illustration within the larger war narrative.