Shloka 24
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
Devanagari script
अथ हंसवचो मूढ: कुत्सयित्वा पुन: पुनः । प्रजगादोत्तरं काक: कत्थनो जातिलाघवात्
Transliteration
atha haṃsavaco mūḍhaḥ kutsayitvā punaḥ punaḥ | prajagādottaraṃ kākaḥ katthano jātilāghavāt ||
Translation
三阇耶说道：听了天鹅的话，那愚蠢而好夸口的乌鸦一再贬损它；出于自身卑劣本性的狭小，它便这样回嘴。
Word by Word
अथthen/thereupon
अथ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
हंसवचःthe swan's words/speech
हंसवचः:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootहंसवचस्
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
मूढःfoolish, deluded
मूढः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमूढ
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कुत्सयित्वाhaving reviled/derided
कुत्सयित्वा:
TypeVerb
Rootकुत्स्
Formक्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)
पुनःagain
पुनः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः
पुनःagain
पुनः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः
प्रजगादsaid/spoke
प्रजगाद:
TypeVerb
Rootगद्
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
उत्तरम्an answer/reply
उत्तरम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootउत्तर
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
काकःthe crow
काकः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootकाक
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
कत्थनःboastful, bragging
कत्थनः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकत्थन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
जातिलाघवात्from (his) baseness of birth/low status
जातिलाघवात्:
Apadana
TypeNoun
Rootजातिलाघव
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular
Speaker
संजय उवाच
Characters & Entities
स
संजय (Sañjaya)ह
हंस (swan)क
काक (crow)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts wise, measured counsel (the swan) with arrogant, repetitive disparagement (the crow), implying that boastfulness and contempt born of inner pettiness obstruct understanding and ethical conduct.
Sañjaya narrates a fable-like exchange: after hearing the swan speak, the crow—foolish and prone to bragging—repeatedly insults the swan and then delivers a retort, motivated by his own base disposition.