Shloka 236
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
कथं त्वं पतिता काक सहास्माभिन्रवीहि तत् । ओ खोटी बुद्धिवाले काग! तू कौआ होकर लंबी उड़ान भरनेवाले और अपने अंगोंमें चक्रका चिह्न धारण करनेवाले एक बलवान् हंसको अपने साथ उड़नेके लिये कैसे ललकार रहा है? काग! बता तो सही
kathaṁ tvaṁ patitā kāka sahāsmābhir bravīhi tat | o khoṭī buddhivāle kāga! tvaṁ kāko bhūtvā lambī uḍāna bharanevāle aura apane aṅgoṁ meṁ cakra-kā cihna dhāraṇa karanevāle eka balavān haṁsako apane sātha uḍane ke liye kaise lalkāra rahā hai? kāga! batā to sahī, tvaṁ hamāre sātha kis prakāra uḍegā? |
三阇耶说道：“说吧——你这堕落的乌鸦，如何能与我们并飞？愚昧的乌鸦啊！你身为乌鸦，怎敢挑战一只雄健的天鹅——它能远翔高举，肢体上还带着轮（查克拉）的印记——要与它同飞？直言无隐：你凭什么能跟上我们？”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses the crow–swan contrast to criticize arrogance and overreaching: one should know one’s true capacity and not challenge the truly capable out of vanity. It warns against pretension and empty bravado, especially in a martial context where such pride leads to ruin.
Sanjaya reports a cutting taunt framed as a metaphor: a ‘fallen crow’ is mocked for daring to challenge a powerful ‘swan’ that can soar far and bears a distinguished ‘cakra’ mark. The speaker demands that the crow explain how it could possibly fly in company with such superior beings—i.e., how it could match their prowess.