Shloka 69
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
आजगाम पुनर्द्धीपं स्पर्धया पेततुर्यत: । अचेत हुए कौएको पीठपर बिठाकर हंस तुरंत ही फिर उसी द्वीपमें आ पहुँचा, जहाँसे होड़ लगाकर दोनों उड़े थे || ६८ ई ।। संस्थाप्य तं चापि पुन: समाश्वास्य च खेचरम्
ājagāma punar dvīpaṃ spardhayā petatur yataḥ | aceto bhūtaṃ kaukeyaṃ pīṭhapar biṭhākar haṃsaḥ tūrṇam eva punar asmin dvīpe samājahāra, yatas tau hoḍaṃ kṛtvā uḍitau || saṃsthāpya taṃ cāpi punaḥ samāśvāsya ca khecaram ||
天鹅迅疾返回那座岛屿——正是二鸟争胜起飞之处。见乌鸦已近昏厥，天鹅将其安置背上带回；待安全放下后，又再三抚慰这位“行于空中”的鸟儿。此事昭示：真正的卓越不在击败弱者，而在其坠落时加以护持，使争竞化为慈悲。
काक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Superiority is not proved by humiliating a rival but by showing compassion when the rival is in distress. The stronger one’s dharma is to protect and reassure, transforming competition into benevolence.
After a competitive flight, the swan returns to the island of departure, finds the crow unconscious, carries him on its back, sets him down safely, and comforts him.