Shloka 53
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
हंस उवाच बहूनि पतितानि त्वमाचक्षाणो मुहुर्मुहु: । पातस्य व्याहरंश्वैंदं न नो गुहां प्रभाषसे,हंस बोला--काग! तू तो बारंबार अपनी बहुत-सी उड़ानोंका बखान कर रहा था; परंतु उन उड़ानोंका वर्णन करते समय उनमेंसे इस गोपनीय रहस्ययुक्त उड़ानकी बात तो तूने नहीं बतायी थी
haṃsa uvāca bahūni patitāni tvam ācakṣāṇo muhur muhuḥ | pātasyā vyāharaṃś caiva idaṃ na no guhāṃ prabhāṣase ||
Thiên nga nói: “Ngươi đã hết lần này đến lần khác khoe kể bao cuộc bay của mình. Thế nhưng khi thuật lại những cuộc bay ấy, ngươi lại không hề nói với ta về chuyến bay này—một chuyến bay mang ý nghĩa kín đáo, bí mật.”
हंस उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical discernment in speech: one may speak at length about achievements, yet omit the crucial ‘guhya’ (hidden) point. It implicitly critiques selective narration and urges honest, complete disclosure when a matter bears special moral or instructive significance.
In a bird-dialogue, the Swan addresses the Crow, noting that the Crow has repeatedly boasted or described many flights, but has not mentioned this particular flight whose significance is secret or deeply meaningful. The Swan presses the Crow to explain what was withheld.