Shloka 413
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
कुर्वाणा विविधान् रावानाशंसन्तो जयं तथा । वे दो-दो घड़ीपर बारंबार उड़-उड़कर कहते--'देखो
kurvāṇā vividhān rāvān āśaṃsanto jayaṃ tathā |
Gagak-gagak, sambil melontarkan pekik-pekik kasar yang beraneka, berulang kali memaklumkan kemenangan bagi pihak mereka sendiri. Berkali-kali mereka terbang naik-turun sambil mengejek, “Lihat, ini terbangnya gagak; itu terbangnya gagak!” Dengan demikian mereka memperolok angsa-angsa dan menyapa mereka dengan kata-kata pedas. Namun pada saat yang sama mereka juga mengucapkan harapan baik bagi kejayaan gagak, berceloteh dalam banyak nada, menyambar dari dahan ke tanah dan dari tanah kembali ke dahan—gelisah, bising, dan berniat merendahkan yang mulia.
हंस उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage criticizes harsh, mocking speech and the delight taken in humiliating others. It implies that noisy self-congratulation and ridicule are signs of poor character, whereas dignity and discernment (symbolized by the swan) should not be shaken by such taunts.
A group of crows repeatedly caw and move restlessly between branches and the ground, boasting about their own ‘flight’ and wishing victory for themselves. In doing so, they mock the swans and speak bitterly to them, turning the scene into a display of derision and factional triumphalism.