Shloka 25

कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०

Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance

Devanagari script

काक उवाच शतमेकं च पातानां पतितास्मि न संशय: । शतयोजनमेकैकं विचित्र विविध तथा

Transliteration

kāka uvāca: śatam ekaṃ ca pātānāṃ patito 'smi na saṃśayaḥ | śatayojanam ekaikaṃ vicitraṃ vividhaṃ tathā ||

Translation

乌鸦说道：“嗨，天鹅！我能施展一百零一种飞行之法——毫无疑问。每一种都可跨越一百由旬，形态各异，奇妙非常。”

Word by Word

• काकः: crow
• काकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: काक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Paroksha-bhuta), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• शतम्: a hundred
• शतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• एकम्: one
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पातानाम्: of flights/falls (pātas)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• पतितः: fallen / (here) accomplished, performed
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत्
• Form: Past passive participle (kta), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अस्मि: I am
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Present, 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• संशयः: doubt
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शतयोजनम्: a hundred yojanas (in extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत-योजन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• एकैकम्: each one (each)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकैक
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• विचित्राः: variegated, wonderful
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• विविधाः: various
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• तथा: thus, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

काक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• काक (Crow)
• हंस (Swan)
• योजन (Yojana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights boastful self-assertion—claiming extraordinary abilities and variety. In ethical reading, it sets up a contrast often used in didactic dialogues: mere claims of prowess versus the deeper virtues of restraint, humility, and proven merit.

What is happening in the narrative?

The crow addresses the swan and declares, with confidence, that it can execute 101 distinct kinds of long-distance flights, each extending a hundred yojanas, emphasizing their diversity and marvel.