Shloka 54
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
कि नाम पतितं काक यच्त्वं पतसि साम्प्रतम् जलं स्पृशसि पक्षाभ्यां तुण्डेन च पुन: पुन:,कौए! बता तो सही, तू इस समय जिस उड़ानसे उड़ रहा है, उसका क्या नाम है? इस उड़ानमें तो तू अपने दोनों पंखों और चोंचके द्वारा जलका बार-बार स्पर्श करने लगा है
ki nāma patitaṃ kāka yac tvaṃ patasi sāmpratam jalaṃ spṛśasi pakṣābhyāṃ tuṇḍena ca punaḥ punaḥ
Dijo el cisne: “Oh cuervo, ¿cómo se llama esta manera de volar con la que vuelas ahora? En este vuelo sigues tocando el agua una y otra vez—con tus dos alas y también con tu pico.”
हंस उवाच
Educational Q&A
Outer display is questioned in light of inner purpose: conduct that looks skillful or dramatic should be examined for its intention and steadiness. The swan’s probing highlights discernment—testing whether an action is meaningful or merely restless, imitative, or driven by craving.
A swan addresses a crow and asks about the ‘name’ or nature of the crow’s current style of flying, noting that the crow repeatedly brushes the water with wings and beak. The scene functions as a didactic exchange where the swan evaluates and challenges the crow’s behavior.