कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
ततो भी: प्राविशत् काक॑ तदा तत्र विचेतसम्
tato bhīḥ prāviśat kāka tadā tatra vicetasam
そのとき恐れが烏に入り込み、まさにその場その時、烏は狼狽して平静を失った。
हंस उवाच
Fear disrupts discernment: when one is seized by bhī (fear), one becomes vicetasa (mentally unsteady), and ethical judgment and effective action collapse. The verse highlights the moral need for steadiness and self-mastery in moments of threat.
In the haṃsa’s narration, the crow is suddenly overcome by fear; right there and then it becomes confused and loses presence of mind, marking a turning point where panic replaces clarity.