08.028
Pancharatra and Core: Shaly narrates a story comparing Karna to a Crow, that eats leftovers and then reminds him of all the previous occasions where he fled the battlefield instead of fighting Arjuna.
sañjaya uvāca॥
Sanjaya said:
māriṣādhiratheḥ śrutvā vaco yuddhābhinandinaḥ। śalyo'bravītpunaḥ karṇaṃ nidarśanamudāharan ॥8-28-1॥
Śalya, after hearing the words of Adhiratha's son who delights in battle, addressed Karna once more, providing an example.
yathaiva matto madyena tvaṃ tathā na ca vā tathā। tathāhaṃ tvāṃ pramādyantaṃ cikitsāmi suhṛttayā ॥8-28-2॥
"Just as you are intoxicated with wine, I am not, or perhaps so. Therefore, I treat you, who are negligent, with friendship."
imāṃ kākopamāṃ karṇa procyamānāṃ nibodha me। śrutvā yatheṣṭaṃ kuryāstvaṃ vihīna kulapāṃsana ॥8-28-3॥
"Karna, listen to this speech that is like a crow's. After hearing it, you may do as you please, O you who are a disgrace to your family."
nāhamātmani kiñcidvai kilbiṣaṃ karṇa saṃsmare। yena tvaṃ māṃ mahābāho hantumicchasyanāgasam ॥8-28-4॥
I do not recall any wrongdoing within myself, O Karna, for which you, O mighty-armed warrior, desire to slay me, who is without guilt.
avaśyaṃ tu mayā vācyaṃ budhyatāṃ yadi te hitam। viśeṣato rathasthena rājñaścaiva hitaiṣiṇā ॥8-28-5॥
"Certainly, I must speak, let it be known to you if it is beneficial, especially by the charioteer and indeed the well-wisher of the king."
samaṃ ca viṣamaṃ caiva rathinaśca balābalam। śramaḥ khedaśca satataṃ hayānāṃ rathinā saha ॥8-28-6॥
The charioteer, along with the horses, constantly faces both even and uneven terrains, strength and weakness, as well as fatigue and exhaustion.
āyudhasya parijñānaṃ rutaṃ ca mṛgapakṣiṇām। bhāraścāpyatibhāraśca śalyānāṃ ca pratikriyā ॥8-28-7॥
The recognition of weapons, the sounds of animals and birds, the weight and excessive weight, and the reaction of arrows are described.
astrayogaśca yuddhaṃ ca nimittāni tathaiva ca। sarvametanmayā jñeyaṃ rathasyāsya kuṭumbinā ॥ atastvāṃ kathaye karṇa nidarśanamidaṃ punaḥ ॥8-28-8॥
The use of weapons, war, and omens are all things I must understand as a member of this chariot's family. Therefore, Karna, I will tell you this example once more.
vaiśyaḥ kila samudrānte prabhūtadhanadhānyavān। yajvā dānapatiḥ kṣāntaḥ svakarmastho'bhavacchuciḥ ॥8-28-9॥
The merchant, indeed, who lived by the ocean, was wealthy and abundant in grains. He was a sacrificer, a generous lord, forgiving, dutiful, and became pure.
bahuputraḥ priyāpatyaḥ sarvabhūtānukampakaḥ। rājño dharmapradhānasya rāṣṭre vasati nirbhayaḥ ॥8-28-10॥
In the kingdom of the king, who is chief in righteousness, there dwells a fearless person with many sons and dear children, compassionate to all beings.
putrāṇāṃ tasya bālānāṃ kumārāṇāṃ yaśasvinām। kāko bahūnāmabhavaducchiṣṭakṛtabhojanaḥ ॥8-28-11॥
The crow became one who eats the leftovers of many sons, children, princes, and illustrious ones.
tasmai sadā prayacchanti vaiśyaputrāḥ kumārakāḥ। māṃsodanaṃ dadhi kṣīraṃ pāyasaṃ madhusarpiṣī ॥8-28-12॥
The sons of merchants, who are young boys, always offer him meat and rice, curd, milk, sweet rice pudding, honey, and ghee.
sa cocchiṣṭabhṛtaḥ kāko vaiśyaputraiḥ kumārakaiḥ। sadṛśānpakṣiṇo dṛptaḥ śreyasaścāvamanyate ॥8-28-13॥
The crow, who was eating leftovers with the merchant's sons, became proud and began to disrespect both similar birds and those superior to him.
atha haṁsāḥ samudrānte kadācidabhipātinaḥ। garuḍasya gatau tulyāścakrāṅgā hṛṣṭacētasaḥ ॥8-28-14॥
Then the swans, at one time flying towards the ocean's edge, matched Garuda in speed, their bodies circular and their minds joyful.
kumārakās tato haṁsān dṛṣṭvā kākam athābruvan। bhavān eva viśiṣṭo hi patatribhyō vihaṅgama ॥8-28-15॥
The boys, after observing the swans, remarked to the crow, "You are truly exceptional among the birds, O bird."
pratāryamāṇastu sa tairalpabuddhibhiraṇḍajaḥ। tadvacaḥ satyamityeva maurkhyāddarpaacca manyate ॥8-28-16॥
The bird, deceived by those of little intelligence, believes their words to be true due to his own foolishness and pride.
tānso'bhipatya jijñāsuḥ ka eṣāṃ śreṣṭhabhāgiti। ucchiṣṭadarpitaḥ kāko bahūnāṃ dūrapātinām ॥8-28-17॥
Approaching them with curiosity, he wondered, 'Who among these has the best share?' The crow, proud of the leftovers, was among the many birds that could fly far.
teṣāṃ yaṃ pravaraṃ mene haṃsānāṃ dūrapātinām। tamāhvayata durbuddhiḥ patāma iti pakṣiṇam ॥8-28-18॥
The evil-minded one called the bird, whom he considered the best among the swans that fly far, saying, "Let us fall."
tacchrutvā prāhasanhaṁsā ye tatrāsansamāgatāḥ। bhāṣato bahu kākasya balinaḥ patatāṁ varāḥ ॥ idamūcuśca cakrāṅgā vacaḥ kākaṁ vihaṅgamāḥ ॥8-28-19॥
Upon hearing that, the swans gathered there laughed. The Chakranga birds, known for their strength among the birds, spoke extensively about the crow and addressed these words to it.
vayaṁ haṁsāścarāmēmāṁ pṛthivīṁ mānasaukasaḥ। pakṣiṇāṁ ca vayaṁ nityaṁ dūrapātena pūjitāḥ ॥8-28-20॥
We, the swans, roam this earth as dwellers of the Manasa lake. Among all birds, we are always revered for our long flights.
kathaṁ nu haṁsaṁ balinaṁ vajrāṅgaṁ dūrapātinaṁ। kāko bhūtvā nipatane samāhvayasi durmate ॥ kathaṁ tvaṁ patanaṁ kāka sahāsmābhirbravīṣi tat ॥8-28-21॥
"How can you, having become a crow, challenge the mighty swan with a body like a thunderbolt, capable of flying far, in a contest of falling, O wicked-minded one? How do you, crow, claim that falling is with us?"
atha haṁsavaco mūḍhaḥ kutsayitvā punaḥ punaḥ। prajagādottaraṁ kākaḥ katthano jātilāghavāt ॥8-28-22॥
Then the foolish crow, repeatedly insulting the swan's words, boastfully replied due to his frivolous nature.
śatamekaṃ ca pātānāṃ patitāsmi na saṃśayaḥ। śatayojanamekaikaṃ vicitraṃ vividhaṃ tathā ॥8-28-23॥
I have fallen a hundred times without a doubt, each fall spanning a hundred yojanas, each unique and diverse in its nature.
uḍḍīnamavaḍīnaṃ ca praḍīnaṃ ḍīnameva ca। niḍīnamatha saṇḍīnaṃ tiryakcātigatāni ca ॥8-28-24॥
The movements include flying up, descending, advancing, bending, sinking, and spreading obliquely, surpassing all directions.
viḍīnaṃ pariḍīnaṃ ca parāḍīnaṃ suḍīnakam। atiḍīnaṃ mahāḍīnaṃ niḍīnaṃ pariḍīnakam ॥8-28-25॥
The state is described as being afflicted, surrounded, and subjugated, yet well-off; it is very afflicted, greatly afflicted, deeply afflicted, and completely surrounded.
gatāgatapratigatā bahvīśca nikuḍīnikāḥ। kartāsmi miṣatāṃ vo'dya tato drakṣyatha me balam ॥8-28-26॥
The many hidden ones have come and gone, and returned. Today, I am the doer for those who see, and then you will witness my strength.
evamukte tu kākena prahasyaiko vihaṅgamaḥ। uvāca haṃsastaṃ kākaṃ vacanaṃ tannibodha me ॥8-28-27॥
Upon hearing this from the crow, one of the birds, a swan, smiled and said to the crow, 'Listen to my words.'
śatamekaṃ ca pātānāṃ tvaṃ kāka patitā dhruvam। ekameva tu ye pātaṃ viduḥ sarve vihaṅgamāḥ ॥8-28-28॥
O crow, you are known to have a hundred falls, but all the birds recognize only one.
tamahaṁ patitā kāka nānyaṁ jānāmi kañcana। pata tvamapi raktākṣa yena vā tena manyase ॥8-28-29॥
I know no one else but that fallen crow. You too, red-eyed one, fall by whom or as you think fit.
atha kākāḥ prajahasurye tatrāsansamāgatāḥ। kathamekena pātena haṃsaḥ pātaśataṃ jayet ॥8-28-30॥
Then the crows gathered there laughed, wondering how the swan could achieve a hundred flights with just one.
ekenaiva śatasyaikaṃ pātenābhibhaviṣyati। haṃsasya patitaṃ kāko balavānāśuvikramaḥ ॥8-28-31॥
A single crow, swift and strong, will overcome a hundred by a fall. The swan, once fallen, is vulnerable to the crow's might.
prapetatuḥ spardhayātha tatastau haṃsavāyasau। ekapātī ca cakrāṅgaḥ kākaḥ pātaśatena ca ॥8-28-32॥
Then, in a competitive spirit, the swan and the crow took flight. The crow, with its one-footed and circular body, attempted to match the swan but ended up falling a hundred times.
petivānatha cakrāṅgaḥ petivānatha vāyasaḥ। visismāpayiṣuḥ pātairācakṣāṇo''tmanaḥ kriyām ॥8-28-33॥
Chakranga and the crow, both having fallen, intended to astonish others with their falls, declaring their own actions.
atha kākasya citrāṇi patitānītarāṇi ca। dṛṣṭvā pramuditāḥ kākā vineduratha taiḥ svaraiḥ ॥8-28-34॥
Then, upon seeing the fallen pictures of the crow and others, the delighted crows cried out with those sounds.
haṁsāṁścāvahasanti sma prāvadannapriyāṇi ca। utpatyotpatya ca prāhurmuhūrtamiti ceti ca ॥8-28-35॥
The swans carried away and spoke unpleasant things; they rose repeatedly and said, 'for a moment, thus and thus.'
vṛkṣāgrebhyaḥ sthalebhyaśca nipatantyutpatanti ca। kurvāṇā vividhānrāvānāśaṁsantastadā jayam ॥8-28-36॥
From the tops of trees and the ground, they rise and fall, making various sounds, wishing for victory at that time.
haṁsastu mṛdukenaiva vikrāntumupacakrame। pratyahīyata kākācca muhūrtamiva māriṣa ॥8-28-37॥
The swan, however, gently began to move forward but was momentarily obstructed by the crow, dear one.
avamanya rayaṃ haṃsānidaṃ vacanamabravīt। yo'sāvutpatito haṃsaḥ so'sāveva prahīyate ॥8-28-38॥
Disregarding this, the swans said: "The swan who has flown away is indeed lost."
atha haṁsaḥ sa tacchrutvā prāpatatpaścimāṁ diśam। uparyupari vegena sāgaraṁ varuṇālayam ॥8-28-39॥
Then the swan, upon hearing that, swiftly flew towards the west, over the ocean, which is the abode of Varuna.
tato bhīḥ prāviśatkākaṃ tadā tatra vicetasam। dvīpadrumāna paśyantaṃ nipatantaṃ śramānvitam ॥ nipateyaṃ kva nu śrānta iti tasmiñjalārṇave ॥8-28-40॥
Then fear gripped the crow, who was unconscious and unable to see the island trees, as it fell exhausted. It thought, "Where indeed can I fall, being so tired, in this vast ocean?"
aviṣahyaḥ samudro hi bahusattvagaṇālayaḥ। mahābhūtaśatodbhāsī nabhaso'pi viśiṣyate ॥8-28-41॥
The ocean is an unconquerable abode of numerous beings and, with its brilliance of countless great elements, it surpasses even the sky.
gāmbhīryāddhi samudrasya na viśeṣaḥ kulādhama। digambarāmbhasāṃ karṇa samudrasthā hi durjayāḥ ॥ vidūrapātāttoyasya kiṃ punaḥ karṇa vāyasaḥ ॥8-28-42॥
Indeed, from the depth, there is no distinction in the ocean, O lowest of the family. O Karna, those who dwell in the vast waters are invincible. What then of the crow, O Karna, from a great distance of water?
atha haṃso'bhyatikramya muhūrtamiti ceti ca। avekṣamāṇastaṃ kākaṃ nāśaknodvyapasarpitum ॥ atikramya ca cakrāṅgaḥ kākaṃ taṃ samudaikṣata ॥8-28-43॥
Then the swan, after surpassing for a moment, observed the crow and was unable to escape. Chakranga, having surpassed, looked at the crow.
taṃ tathā hīyamānaṃ ca haṃso dṛṣṭvābravīdidam। ujjihīrṣurnimajjantaṃ smaransatpuruṣavratam ॥8-28-44॥
The swan, observing him sinking, spoke these words with the intention to uplift him, recalling the vow of noble individuals.
bahūni patanāni tvamācakṣāṇo muhurmuhuḥ। patasyavyāharaṃścedaṃ na no guhyaṃ prabhāṣase ॥8-28-45॥
You repeatedly speak of many falls, yet if you utter this, you do not reveal our secret.
kiṁ nāma patanaṁ kāka yat tvaṁ patasi sāmpratam। jalaṁ spṛśasi pakṣābhyāṁ tuṇḍena ca punaḥ punaḥ ॥8-28-46॥
"O crow, what is this fall that you are experiencing now? You keep touching the water repeatedly with your wings and beak."
sa pakṣābhyāṃ spṛśannārtastuṇḍena jalamarṇave। kāko dṛḍhaṃ pariśrāntaḥ sahasā nipapāta ha ॥8-28-47॥
The crow, exhausted and distressed, touched the water in the ocean with its wings and beak, and suddenly fell down.
haṁsa uvāca॥
The swan spoke:
śatamekaṃ ca pātānāṃ yatprabhāṣasi vāyasa। nānāvidhānīha purā taccānṛtamiḥādya te ॥8-28-48॥
O crow, the hundred and one types of falls you mentioned earlier were diverse, but now they are false.
kāka uvāca॥
The crow spoke:
ucchiṣṭadarpito haṃsa manye''tmānaṃ suparṇavat। avamanya bahūṃścāhaṃ kākānanyāṃśca pakṣiṇaḥ ॥ prāṇairhaṃsa prapadye tvāṃ dvīpāntaṃ prāpayasva mām ॥8-28-49॥
Proud of leftovers, I see myself like Garuda, looking down on many crows and other birds. With my life, O swan, I surrender to you; please take me to the island's end.
yadyahaṁ svastimānhaṁsa svadeśaṁ prāpnuyāṁ punaḥ। na kañcidavamanyeyamāpado māṁ samuddhara ॥8-28-50॥
If I, the swan, safely return to my homeland once more, I will not disrespect anyone. Please lift me from my troubles.
tamevaṁvādinaṁ dīnaṁ vilapantamacetanam। kāka kāketi vāśantaṁ nimajjantaṁ mahārṇave ॥8-28-51॥
Seeing him in such a state, miserable and lamenting, unconscious and crying 'crow, crow', while sinking into the vast ocean.
tathaitya vāyasaṃ haṃso jalaklinnaṃ sudurdaśam। padbhyām utkṣipya vepantaṃ pṛṣṭham āropayacchanaḥ ॥8-28-52॥
The swan, seeing the crow in a pitiable, water-soaked condition, gently lifted it with its feet and placed it on its back, trembling.
āropya pṛṣṭhaṃ kākaṃ taṃ haṃsaḥ karṇa vicetasam। ājagāma punardvīpaṃ spardhayā petaturyataḥ ॥8-28-53॥
The swan, having mounted the back of the unconscious crow, returned to the island from where they had flown in rivalry.
saṁsthāpya taṁ cāpi punaḥ samāśvāsya ca khecaram। gato yathepsitaṁ deśaṁ haṁso mana ivāśugaḥ ॥8-28-54॥
After establishing and comforting the bird, the swan swiftly went to its desired destination, like the mind.
ucchiṣṭabhojanātkāko yathā vaiśyakule tu saḥ। evaṃ tvamucchiṣṭabhṛto dhārtarāṣṭrairna saṃśayaḥ ॥ sadṛśāñśreyasaścāpi sarvānkārṇātimanyase ॥8-28-55॥
"Just as a crow feeds on leftovers in a merchant's family, so you are fed by the sons of Dhritarashtra, without a doubt. You consider all similar and better than Karna."
droṇadrauṇikṛpairgupto bhīṣmeṇānyaiśca kauravaiḥ। virāṭanagare pārthamekaṃ kiṃ nāvadhīstadā ॥8-28-56॥
Despite being protected by Drona, Drauni, Kripa, Bhishma, and other Kauravas, why did you fail to kill Partha in the city of Virata at that time?
yatra vyastāḥ samastāśca nirjitāḥ stha kirīṭinā। sṛgālā iva siṃhena kva te vīryamabhūttadā ॥8-28-57॥
In the place where everyone was scattered and defeated by the king, just as jackals are by a lion, where was your courage at that time?
bhrātaraṃ ca hataṃ dṛṣṭvā nirjitaḥ savyasācinā। paśyatāṃ kuruvīrāṇāṃ prathamaṃ tvaṃ palāyathāḥ ॥8-28-58॥
Upon witnessing your brother's death and defeat at the hands of Arjuna, you were the first to retreat before the Kuru heroes.
tathā dvaitavane karṇa gandharvaiḥ samabhidrutaḥ। kurūnsamagrānutsṛjya prathamaṃ tvaṃ palāyathāḥ ॥8-28-59॥
In the forest of Dvaitavana, Karna was attacked by the Gandharvas, and you were the first to flee, leaving all the Kurus behind.
hatvā jitvā ca gandharvāṁścitrasenamukhānraṇe। karṇa duryodhanaṁ pārthaḥ sabhāryaṁ samamocayat ॥8-28-60॥
After defeating and killing the Gandharvas led by Citraratha in battle, Arjuna freed Karna and Duryodhana along with his wife.
punaḥ prabhāvaḥ pārthasya purāṇaḥ keśavasya ca। kathitaḥ karṇa rāmeṇa sabhāyāṃ rājasansadi ॥8-28-61॥
Once more, the ancient influence of Arjuna and Krishna was recounted by Karna and Rama in the royal court assembly.
satataṁ ca tadaśrauṣīrvacanaṁ droṇabhīṣmayoḥ। avadhyau vadataḥ kṛṣṇau saṁnidhau vai mahīkṣitām ॥8-28-62॥
He constantly heard Drona and Bhishma declaring that Krishna was invincible in the presence of the kings.
kiyantaṃ tatra vakṣyāmi yena yena dhanañjayaḥ। tvatto'tiriktaḥ sarvebhyo bhūtebhyo brāhmaṇo yathā ॥8-28-63॥
I will speak there of how much Dhananjaya is different from all beings, just as a Brahmin is from you.
idānīmeva draṣṭāsi pradhane syandane sthitau। putraṃ ca vasudevasya pāṇḍavaṃ ca dhanañjayam ॥8-28-64॥
"Now you will see the son of Vasudeva and the Pandava, Dhananjaya, standing in the chariot in the midst of the battle."
devāsuramanuṣyeṣu prakhyātau yau nararṣabhau। prakāśenābhivikhyātau tvaṃ tu khadyotavannṛṣu ॥8-28-65॥
Among gods, demons, and humans, those who are renowned as the best among men are well-known by their brilliance, but you are like a firefly among men.
evaṃ vidvān māvamaṃsthāḥ sūtaputrācyutārjunau। nṛsiṃhau tau naraśvā tvaṃ joṣamāssva vikaththana ॥8-28-66॥
Thus, O wise one, do not underestimate the son of a charioteer, Acyuta and Arjuna. They are like lions among men and horses. You should remain silent, O boastful one.
