Shloka 306
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
Devanagari script
प्रदिशध्व॑ यथान्यायं केन हंसा: पताम्यहम् | आज मैं तुमलोगोंके देखते-देखते जब इतनी उड़ानें भरूँगा
Transliteration
pradiśadhvaṁ yathānyāyaṁ kena haṁsāḥ patāmy aham |
Translation
乌鸦说道：“请依正当之理裁定：我当以何种飞法腾空。今日就在你们眼前，我将一次又一次冲上苍穹；那时你们便知我的力量。诸天鹅啊，请细加思量，告诉我：‘在这些飞法之中，我应以哪一种升入天际？’”
Word by Word
प्रदिशध्वम्tell, point out
प्रदिशध्वम्:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-√दिश्
Formलोट् (imperative), 2, plural, परस्मैपद
यथाas, according to
यथा:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
अन्यायम्injustice, improper way
अन्यायम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअन्याय
Formmasculine, accusative, singular
केनby which? with what?
केन:
Karana
TypePronoun
Rootकिम्
Formmasculine/neuter, instrumental, singular
हंसाःswans
हंसाः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootहंस
Formmasculine, nominative, plural
पतामिI fly
पतामि:
Kriya
TypeVerb
Root√पत्
Formलट् (present), 1, singular, परस्मैपद
अहम्I
अहम्:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootअहम्
Form—, nominative, singular
Speaker
काक उवाच
Characters & Entities
क
काक (crow)ह
हंस (swans)आ
आकाश (sky)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the tension between proper judgment (nyāya) and boastful self-assertion: one should act according to what is fitting and seek discerning counsel, rather than relying on prideful display of strength.
The crow addresses the swans and challenges them to decide which manner of flight he should demonstrate, claiming he will repeatedly soar before them so they may witness his power.