Shloka 71
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
उच्छिष्टभोजन: काको यथा वैश्यकुले पुरा
ucchiṣṭa-bhojanaḥ kāko yathā vaiśya-kule purā | pūrva-kāle meṁ vaha kauā jaise vaiśya-kula meṁ sabkī jūṭhan khākar palā thā, usī prakāra dhṛtarāṣṭra-ke putroṁ ne tumheṁ jūṭha-dān khilā-khilākar pālā hai, ismeṁ saṁśaya nahīṁ hai | karṇa! isīse tuma apne samāna tathā apne-se śreṣṭha puruṣoṁ kā bhī apamāna karate ho ||
उच्छिष्टभोजनः काकः यथा वैश्यकुले पुरा। तथा धृतराष्ट्रपुत्रैस्त्वं जूठैः पोषितोऽसि न संशयः। कर्ण! तस्मादेव त्वं समैः श्रेष्ठैश्च पुरुषैरपि परिभवमाचरसि।
काक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse condemns arrogance and abusive speech: dependence on questionable patronage and the humiliation implied by it can foster resentment and pride, but dharma requires restraint, respect for worthy persons, and ethical conduct regardless of one’s benefactors.
A speaker identified as “the crow” rebukes Karṇa, mocking his reliance on the Kauravas by comparing him to a crow living on leftovers in a merchant’s house, and then explains that this dependence has led Karṇa to insult even equals and superiors.