Shloka 70
कर्णपर्व — अध्याय ४०
Karṇa’s Pressure on the Pāñcālas; Duryodhana Disabled; Arjuna’s Counter-Advance
गतो यथेप्सितं देशं हंसो मन इवाशुग: । उस कौएको उसके स्थानपर रखकर उसे आश्वासन दे मनके समान शीघ्रगामी हंस पुनः अपने अभीष्ट देशको चला गया ।। ६९ $ ।। एवमुच्छिष्टपुष्ट: स काको हंसपराजित:
gato yathepsitaṃ deśaṃ haṃso mana ivāśugaḥ | evaṃ ucchiṣṭa-puṣṭaḥ sa kāko haṃsa-parājitaḥ ||
天鹅快如心念，将乌鸦安置回原处，予以宽慰，便又飞向自己所愿之地。于是，那只仅靠残羹剩饭得以苟活的乌鸦，终为天鹅所胜——此乃箴言：真正的卓越不在趁机啄食他人所遗，而在自身的力量与修持。
काक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts the swan’s innate excellence and swift purposeful movement with the crow’s dependence on leftovers, suggesting that genuine worth comes from one’s own discipline and discernment rather than opportunistic gain.
After placing the crow back in its proper place and reassuring it (as implied by the surrounding narration), the swan departs swiftly to its chosen destination; the crow is described as having been nourished by leftovers and ultimately defeated by the swan.