कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
अतिक्रम्य च चक्राड़: काक॑ तं समुदैक्षत
atikramya ca cakrāḍaḥ kākaṃ taṃ samudaikṣata
Setelah melampaui bibir roda, gagak itu menatapnya saksama—seakan menilai apa yang ada di balik batas yang baru saja ia langgar; suatu isyarat akan rasa ingin tahu yang gegabah dan risiko moral dari melampaui batas.
हंस उवाच
The verse suggests an ethical warning: crossing a boundary (atikrama) out of impulsive curiosity can lead to moral or practical danger; careful discernment should precede stepping beyond established limits.
In a didactic exchange attributed to the swan (haṃsa), the crow is described as having crossed the wheel’s edge/boundary and then staring intently—portraying a moment of transgressive action followed by scrutiny, as if assessing consequences or seeking advantage.