Shloka 63

Devanagari script

प्रत्युवाच तत: काक: सीदमान इदं वच: । उपरिष्ट तदा हंसमभिवीक्ष्य प्रसादयन्‌,तब जलमें अत्यन्त कष्ट पाते हुए कौएने जलके ऊपर ठहरे हुए हंसकी ओर देखकर उसे प्रसन्न करनेके लिये कहा

Transliteration

pratyuvāca tataḥ kākaḥ sīdamāna idaṃ vacaḥ | upariṣṭāt tadā haṃsam abhivīkṣya prasādayan |

Translation

Then the crow, sinking and struggling in the water, spoke these words. Looking up at the swan who remained above the water, the crow tried to appease him with humble speech, seeking rescue as his own strength failed.

Word by Word

• प्रत्युवाच: replied/answered
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-√वच्
• Form: Luṅ (Aorist), 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ततः: then/from thereupon
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• काकः: the crow
• काकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सीदमानः: sinking/being distressed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √सद् (सीद्) → सीदमान
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, शानच् (present active participle)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उपरिष्टात्: above/on top
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरिष्टात्

• तदा: then/at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• हंसम्: the swan
• हंसम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंस
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभिवीक्ष्य: having looked at
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभि-√वीक्ष्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)

• प्रसादयन्: seeking to please/conciliating
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√सद् (causative √सादय्) → प्रसादयत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, शतृ (present active participle)

Speaker

शल्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• काक (crow)
• हंस (swan)
• जल (water)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

When one is overwhelmed by hardship, arrogance gives way to dependence; the verse highlights the ethical value of humility and the practical use of conciliation (prasādana) to seek help or forgiveness.

What is happening in the narrative?

A crow, exhausted and sinking in water, looks up at a swan positioned above the water and speaks to him in an attempt to placate and gain assistance or favor.