Shloka 43
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
प्रत्यहीयत काकाच्च मुहूर्तमिव मारिष । आर्य! हंसने एक ही मृदुल गतिसे उड़ना आरम्भ किया था; अतः दो घड़ीतक वह कौएसे हारता-सा प्रतीत हुआ || ४२ $ ।। अवमन्य च हंसांस्तानिदं वचनमन्रुवन्
pratyahīyata kākāc ca muhūrtam iva māriṣa | ārya! haṃsenaika eva mṛdula-gatyā uḍḍayanam ārabdhaṃ āsīt; ataḥ dve ghaṭī-tak sa kākāt hārata iva pratīto 'bhavat || avamanya ca haṃsāṃs tān idaṃ vacanam abruvan ||
Hỡi bậc đáng kính, trong chốc lát thiên nga dường như bị quạ bỏ xa. “Thưa ngài cao quý, thiên nga chỉ vừa mới bắt đầu bay với nhịp điệu mềm mại, chừng mực; bởi vậy, suốt khoảng hai ghaṭī, nó trông như đang thua quạ.” Rồi, khinh miệt những con thiên nga ấy, hắn buông lời như sau.
हंस उवाच
Educational Q&A
Do not judge superiority by a brief, initial appearance. A gentle, steady nature may seem slower at first, but true excellence is not measured by momentary advantage; contempt and premature boasting are ethically blameworthy.
A comparison is being made between a crow and a swan in flight: for a short time the swan appears to lag because it begins with a soft, measured pace. On that basis, someone then speaks contemptuously toward the swans, setting up a moral contrast between shallow triumph and genuine worth.