Shloka 53
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
हंस उवाच बहूनि पतितानि त्वमाचक्षाणो मुहुर्मुहु: । पातस्य व्याहरंश्वैंदं न नो गुहां प्रभाषसे
haṃsa uvāca bahūni patitāni tvam ācakṣāṇo muhur muhuḥ | pātasyā vyāharaṃś caiva idaṃ na no guhāṃ prabhāṣase ||
天鹅说道：“你一再夸说自己曾有许多飞行。可在叙述那些飞行时，你却不曾对我们提起这一回——这一回含着隐秘、不可轻言之意的飞行。”
हंस उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical discernment in speech: one may speak at length about achievements, yet omit the crucial ‘guhya’ (hidden) point. It implicitly critiques selective narration and urges honest, complete disclosure when a matter bears special moral or instructive significance.
In a bird-dialogue, the Swan addresses the Crow, noting that the Crow has repeatedly boasted or described many flights, but has not mentioned this particular flight whose significance is secret or deeply meaningful. The Swan presses the Crow to explain what was withheld.