Shloka 58
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
शल्य कर्णको हंस और कौएका उपाख्यान सुनाकर अपमानित कर रहे हैं वयं काका: कुतो नाम चराम: काकवाशिका: । हंस प्राणै: प्रपद्ये त्वामुदकान्तं नयस्व माम्
vayaṃ kākāḥ kuto nāma carāmaḥ kākavāśikāḥ | haṃsa prāṇaiḥ prapadye tvām udakāntaṃ nayasva mām ||
Śalya nói: “Chúng ta chỉ là loài quạ—làm sao có thể thực sự đi lại (một cách thanh nhã hay tài nghệ)? Ta chỉ buông tiếng quạ kêu vô ích. Hỡi thiên nga, với chính hơi thở sinh mệnh này ta xin nương tựa nơi ngươi; xin dẫn ta đến bờ nước.”
शल्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts empty, boastful noise with true ability and discernment: recognizing one’s limits, abandoning vain talk, and seeking competent guidance (taking refuge in the ‘swan’) is presented as the ethical path to safety and dignity.
Śalya, while speaking in the Karṇa Parva, cites a fable-like utterance where a ‘crow’ admits helplessness and appeals to a ‘swan’ to be led to the water’s edge—used rhetorically to shame and instruct by highlighting the gap between pretension and real capacity.