Shloka 22
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
हंया ऊचु: वयं हंसाश्चरामेमां पृथिवीं मानसौकस: । पक्षिणां च वयं नित्यं दूरपातेन पूजिता:
haṁsā ūcuḥ—vayaṁ haṁsāś carāma imāṁ pṛthivīṁ mānasaukasaḥ | pakṣiṇāṁ ca vayaṁ nityaṁ dūrapātena pūjitāḥ ||
हंसा ऊचुः—काक! वयं मानसौकसो हंसाः। वयं सदा इमां पृथिवीं चरामः। दूरपातित्वात् च वयं पक्षिणां मध्ये नित्यं पूजिताः।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how social honor can arise from a perceived excellence (here, the swans’ ability to fly far), while also hinting at the ethical risk of pride based on status or reputation.
In a framed dialogue narrated by Sañjaya, the swans introduce themselves to a crow, identifying their home as Mānasarovara and asserting their long-standing respect among birds due to their far-ranging flight.