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 ||
Con quạ nói: “Hỡi Radheya, hãy lắng nghe kỹ lời ta. Hỡi con của Radha—khi quạ nói như vậy, một con thiên nga lãng du trên không trung bật cười vang và đáp lại nó. Hãy nghe ta kể điều thiên nga ấy đã nói.”
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.