कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
अतिक्रम्य च चक्राड़: काक॑ तं समुदैक्षत
atikramya ca cakrāḍaḥ kākaṃ taṃ samudaikṣata
Setelah melangkaui bibir roda, gagak itu menatapnya dengan tajam, seolah-olah menilai apa yang ada di sebalik batas yang baru sahaja dilanggarnya—suatu rasa ingin tahu yang gopoh, menyiratkan bahaya moral apabila melampaui had.
हंस उवाच
The verse suggests an ethical warning: crossing a boundary (atikrama) out of impulsive curiosity can lead to moral or practical danger; careful discernment should precede stepping beyond established limits.
In a didactic exchange attributed to the swan (haṃsa), the crow is described as having crossed the wheel’s edge/boundary and then staring intently—portraying a moment of transgressive action followed by scrutiny, as if assessing consequences or seeking advantage.