Shloka 85
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
देवासुरमनुष्येषु प्रख्यातौ यौ नरोत्तमौ । तौ मावमंस्था मौख्ख्यात् त्वं खद्योत इव रोचनौ,जैसे जुगनू प्रकाशमान सूर्य और चन्द्रमाका तिरस्कार करे, उसी प्रकार तुम देवताओं, असुरों और मनुष्योंमें भी विख्यात उन दोनों नरश्रेष्ठ वीर श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुनका मूर्खतावश अपमान न करो
devāsura-manuṣyeṣu prakhyātau yau narottamau | tau māvamam̐sthā mauḍhyāt tvaṁ khadyota iva rocanau ||
愚かさゆえに、神々・阿修羅・人間の間にまで名高い、あの二人の人中の至宝を侮るな。彼らの輝きを貶めるとは、蛍が日と月を嘲るに等しい。
काक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse warns against arrogant contempt for truly eminent persons. One should cultivate discernment and humility: belittling the renowned and radiant is as absurd as a firefly scorning the sun and moon, and it leads to ethical and practical ruin.
Kāka addresses someone who is about to speak or act disrespectfully toward two universally celebrated heroes. Using the firefly-versus-sun-and-moon comparison, he cautions that such mockery is born of delusion and ignores their established greatness.