Shloka 54
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
कि नाम पतितं काक यच्त्वं पतसि साम्प्रतम् जलं स्पृशसि पक्षाभ्यां तुण्डेन च पुन: पुन:
ki nāma patitaṃ kāka yac tvaṃ patasi sāmpratam jalaṃ spṛśasi pakṣābhyāṃ tuṇḍena ca punaḥ punaḥ
Thiên nga nói: “Hỡi quạ, lối bay mà ngươi đang bay lúc này gọi là gì? Trong lối bay ấy, ngươi cứ chạm nước hết lần này đến lần khác—bằng cả đôi cánh và cả chiếc mỏ.”
हंस उवाच
Educational Q&A
Outer display is questioned in light of inner purpose: conduct that looks skillful or dramatic should be examined for its intention and steadiness. The swan’s probing highlights discernment—testing whether an action is meaningful or merely restless, imitative, or driven by craving.
A swan addresses a crow and asks about the ‘name’ or nature of the crow’s current style of flying, noting that the crow repeatedly brushes the water with wings and beak. The scene functions as a didactic exchange where the swan evaluates and challenges the crow’s behavior.