Shloka 32

कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०

Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance

Devanagari script

एवमुक्ते तु काकेन प्रहस्यैको विहंगम:

Transliteration

evam ukte tu kākena prahasyāiko vihaṅgamaḥ

Translation

Khi quạ nói như vậy, có một loài chim bật cười vang—cười nhạo đáp lại lời quạ, như muốn phơi bày sự ngớ ngẩn và thử xem lời vừa thốt ra nặng nhẹ về đạo lý đến đâu.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्ते: when (it was) said
• उक्ते: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), neuter, locative, singular

• तु: but, indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• काकेन: by the crow
• काकेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

• प्रहस्य: having laughed
• Type: Verb
• Root: हस्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), parasmaipada (usage), having laughed (forth)

• एकः: one, a certain
• एकः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• विहङ्गमः: bird
• विहङ्गमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विहङ्गम
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

काक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• काक (crow)
• विहंगम (a bird)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a common ethical dynamic in didactic tales: speech is tested by response. Laughter here signals skepticism and invites scrutiny—urging the listener to distinguish between mere assertion and sound judgment.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the crow finishes speaking, another bird reacts by laughing. This sets up a rebuttal or counterpoint, indicating that the crow’s statement will be challenged or evaluated.