Shloka 55
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
प्रत्रूहि कतमे तत्र पाते वर्तसि वायस । एह्टोहि काक शीचघ्र॑ त्वमेष त्वां प्रतिपालये,वायस! बता, बता। इस समय तू कौन-सी उड़ानमें स्थित है। कौए! आ, शीघ्र आ। मैं अभी तेरी रक्षा करता हूँ
haṃsa uvāca | prabrūhi katame tatra pāte vartasi vāyasa | ehi kākāśu tvaṃ eṣa tvāṃ pratipālaye vāyasa | bata bata |
The Swan said: “Tell me—what kind of flight are you engaged in there, O crow? Come here quickly, O crow. I shall protect you at once.”
हंस उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the dharmic impulse to offer immediate protection to one who appears threatened, emphasizing compassion and responsibility toward the vulnerable.
The Swan addresses a crow, urgently asking what sort of flight it is in and calling it to come quickly, promising to protect it at once—suggesting the crow is in danger or distress.