Shloka 70
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
गतो यथेप्सितं देशं हंसो मन इवाशुग: । उस कौएको उसके स्थानपर रखकर उसे आश्वासन दे मनके समान शीघ्रगामी हंस पुनः अपने अभीष्ट देशको चला गया ।। ६९ $ ।। एवमुच्छिष्टपुष्ट: स काको हंसपराजित:
gato yathepsitaṃ deśaṃ haṃso mana ivāśugaḥ | evaṃ ucchiṣṭa-puṣṭaḥ sa kāko haṃsa-parājitaḥ ||
心のごとく迅速な白鳥は、烏をその場所に戻して励まし、ふたたび望む国へと去っていった。かくして、残り物に養われるばかりの烏は白鳥に敗れた—他人の残滓に便乗して得るものではなく、自らの力と鍛錬によってこそ真の卓越は成る、という戒めである。
काक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts the swan’s innate excellence and swift purposeful movement with the crow’s dependence on leftovers, suggesting that genuine worth comes from one’s own discipline and discernment rather than opportunistic gain.
After placing the crow back in its proper place and reassuring it (as implied by the surrounding narration), the swan departs swiftly to its chosen destination; the crow is described as having been nourished by leftovers and ultimately defeated by the swan.