Shloka 65
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
प्राणै्ँस प्रपद्ये त्वां द्वीपान्तं प्रापपस्व माम् । यद्यहं स्वस्तिमान् हंस स्वं देशं प्राप्तुयां प्रभो
kāka uvāca | prāṇaiḥ prapadye tvāṃ dvīpāntaṃ prāpaya sva mām | yady ahaṃ svastimān haṃsa svaṃ deśaṃ prāptuyāṃ prabho ||
ಕಾಗವು ಹೇಳಿತು—“ಪ್ರಾಣಗಳೊಡನೆ ನಾನು ನಿನ್ನ ಶರಣಾಗುತ್ತೇನೆ. ನನ್ನನ್ನು ದ್ವೀಪದ ಆ ಪಾರಕ್ಕೆ ತಲುಪಿಸು. ಹೇ ಪ್ರಭು ಹಂಸಾ! ನಾನು ಕ್ಷೇಮವಾಗಿ ನನ್ನ ದೇಶವನ್ನು ತಲುಪಬಹುದಾದರೆ…”
काक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge): in danger, one appeals to a capable and noble protector, acknowledging dependence and requesting safe passage. Ethically, it highlights humility, trust, and the hope for protection grounded in the helper’s virtue.
A crow addresses a swan, pleading for rescue: it surrenders ‘with its life’ and asks to be carried to the far side of an island so it may return safely to its own land.