Shloka 323
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
उवाच काकं राधेय वचन तन्निबोध मे । राधापुत्र! कौएके ऐसा कहनेपर एक आकाशचारी हंसने हँसकर उससे जो कुछ कहा, वह मुझसे सुनो
uvāca kākaṃ rādhēya vacanaṃ tan nibodha me | rādhāputra! kaueke evaṃ kahanepara eka ākāśacārī haṃsane haṃsakar usase yo kiñcit kathitaṃ tat me śṛṇu ||
ກາກໄດ້ເວົ້າວ່າ: “ໂອ ຣາເທຍ (Radheya) ຈົ່ງຟັງຖ້ອຍຄໍາຂອງຂ້ອຍໃຫ້ດີ. ໂອ ບຸດແຫ່ງຣາດາ! ເມື່ອກາກເວົ້າດັ່ງນັ້ນ ຫົງຜູ້ທ່ອງຟ້າກໍຫົວເຮາະດັງໆ ແລ້ວຕອບກັບມັນ. ຈົ່ງຟັງຈາກຂ້ອຍວ່າ ຫົງນັ້ນເວົ້າຫຍັງ.”
काक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The framing suggests a moral dialogue: the crow’s words prompt a response from the swan, a traditional emblem of discrimination (viveka). The ethical thrust is to weigh speech and conduct carefully, learning discernment from wiser counsel rather than clinging to pride or impulsive talk.
A crow addresses Karna (Radheya) and asks him to listen. The crow then recounts an earlier exchange: after the crow spoke, a swan flying in the sky laughed and replied. This verse functions as a transition into the swan’s forthcoming speech.