Shloka 24
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
अथ हंसवचो मूढ: कुत्सयित्वा पुन: पुनः । प्रजगादोत्तरं काक: कत्थनो जातिलाघवात्,हंसकी बात सुनकर बढ़-बढ़कर बातें बनानेवाले मूर्ख कौएने अपनी जातिगत क्षुद्रताके कारण बारंबार उसकी निन्दा करके उसे इस प्रकार उत्तर दिया
atha haṃsavaco mūḍhaḥ kutsayitvā punaḥ punaḥ | prajagādottaraṃ kākaḥ katthano jātilāghavāt ||
Sañjaya said: Hearing the swan’s words, the foolish crow—given to boastful talk—again and again disparaged him; and, out of the pettiness of his own low nature, spoke back in reply.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts wise, measured counsel (the swan) with arrogant, repetitive disparagement (the crow), implying that boastfulness and contempt born of inner pettiness obstruct understanding and ethical conduct.
Sañjaya narrates a fable-like exchange: after hearing the swan speak, the crow—foolish and prone to bragging—repeatedly insults the swan and then delivers a retort, motivated by his own base disposition.