Karna Parva — The story of the swan and crow

Sanjaya said Hearing the words of the great car-warrior Karna who took delight in battle Shalya again said to hiin, citing an example.

I am born in a family the members of which performed sacrifices, never fled away from the field of battle and who were kings whose heads were sprinkled with the water of coronation. I am also devoted to virtue.

O Vrisha, you appear like an intoxicated man. For all that, out of friendship I will try to cure you of your mistakes.

Hear, O Karna, this allegory of a crow that I will relate. Hearing this, you may do whatever you like, O you shorn of intelligence and the wretch of your family.

O Karna, I do not remember a single sin in me for which you desire to kill me innocent as I am.

I must tell you what is good for you and what is bad. I know both and besides I am the driver of your car and wish good to the king Duryodhana.

(I know) what land is even and what is uneven-the strength and weakness of the carwarrior (of my chariot) the fatigue and perspiration of the horses along with the car-warrior; (I have) a knowledge of weapons, of the cries of birds and animals, of what would be heavy for the horses and what would be exceedingly heavy for them, of the taking out of the arrows, of the wounds, of the weapons counteracting each other of the diverse modes of fighting and of all kinds of omens and indications. I know all this who am so familiar with this car. I therefore describe to you this incident once more.

There lived on the other side of the sea a Vaishya who rolled in wealth and corn. He performed yajnas, made liberal gifts, was quiet, observant of the duties of his own order and pure in habits and mind.

He had a number of sons of whom he was fond and kind to all creatures. He lived without any fear in the kingdom of a pious king.

There was a crow who lived upon the leavings of the well-behaved children of the Vaishya. His children always gave the crow meat, curds, mild, pudding, honey and butter.

Thus fed with the leavings of the food by those sons of the Vaishya the crow became arrogant and began to think light of all birds who were equal to him or even superior.

It so happened that once on a time several cheerful swans, quick-coursing, capable of going every where at will, equal to Garuda in fight and speed, came to that side of the ocean.

Seeing those swans the Vaishya boys said to the crow-"O ranger of the sky, you are superior to all winged creatures."

Thus imposed upon by the little-witted children, the bird, out of folly and arrogance, took their words as true.

Proud of the leavings on which he fed the crow, approaching the swans who were capable of traversing a great distance, desired to enquire who amongst them was the leader. That foolish crow challenged him whom he considered as the leader amongst those swans capable of going to a great distance, saying-“Let us compete in fight."

Hearing the words of the arrogant crow, the swans, that had come there, the foremost of birds gifted with great strength, began to laugh. The swans, who were capable of coursing everywhere at will then, addressed the crow saying.

The Swans said "We are swans and live in the Manasa lake. We range over the whole earth and amongst the winged creatures we are always spoken high for the length of the distances we traverse.

A crow as you are, how do you, O fool, challenge a mighty swan coursing every where at will and traversing over a great distance. Tell us, Ocrow, how you will fly with us."

Finding fault repeatedly with the words of the swans, the vain crow, on account of the foolishness of its species, at last gave this answer.

The crow said Forsooth shall I fly displaying a hundred and one different kinds of motion. I shall show them traversing every hundred yojanas with each separate and beautiful motion.

Rising up, swooping down, whirling around, going straight, proceeding gently, coursing aslant up and down, going still, wheeling around, going back, sowing high, darting forward, sowing higher up with greater velocity more, moving on gently-and going on in various ways.

These various motions I shall display before you. You will see my strength. With one of these diverse kinds of motions I shall immediately soar into the sky. Tell me, O swans, by which of these motion shall I course through the sky.

Settling your course you shall have to fly with me. Adopting all these motions you shall have to course with me through the sky having no support."

Having been thus addressed by the crow, O son of Radha, one of the swans said to him laughing. Hear from me (what he said).

The Swan said Forsooth O crow, you will course in hundred and different ways. I shall however fly in one kind of motion which all other birds know; for I do not know any other, O crow. As for yourself, O you of red eyes, you may fly in any kind of way you like.

Thereupon all the crows that had assembled there laughed saying "How will the swan with one kind of flight beat down a hundred flights? The powerful and the quick-coursing crow will beat down the swan with one flight.

Then those two, the swan the crow, rose into the sky challenging each other-the swan coursing in one motion and the crow in a hundred different ways. The swan flew and the crow flew.

Making each other to wonder and speaking highly of their respective feats. Seeing the various kinds of motions at every moment the crows that were there were filled with delight and began to caw loudly.

The swans also laughed aloud making many unpleasant remarks. They began to rise up and alight repeatedly. They came down and rose up from the tops of the trees and the surface of the earth; they began to emit cries bespeaking their respective victories.

With one kind of gentle motion the swan began to roar up. For a moment, O Marisha, the crow seemed to have defeated him.

Thereat disregarding the swans the crows said-"That swan amongst us who has soared high up is evidently defeated."

Hearing this the swan with great velocity began to move westwards towards the ocean abounding in Makaras.

Then the crow became afraid who was almost besides himself at not seeing any island or trees whereon to perch when tired.

(He then thought) “where shall I alight on this vast ocean when tired?” Irrepressible is the deep the abode of numberless creatures. Inhabited by hundreds of monsters it is greater than the sky.

you wretch, none can exceed the ocean in depth. O Karna, the men know that the waters of the ocean are equally boundless like the sky. What is crow to it considering its extent?

Doing a great distance in a moment the swan looked back at the crow and could not leave him behind.

Having beaten down the crow the swan looked at him and waited thinking 'Let the crow come up.'

Thereupon greatly exhausted the crow came up to the swan. Thereupon beholding him about to sink and with a view to rescue him the swan, remembering the good offices of the pious, said to him-

The Swan said “While speaking about flight you again and again mentioned about a goodly number of them. You should not mention this your flight which is a mystery to us.

What is the name of this flight, O crow, which you have followed now? You repeatedly touch the waters with your wings and beak.

Which amongst those many kinds of flight, O crow, that you are bow following? Come quickly, Ocrow, I am waiting for you.

Shalya said O wicked one, greatly tired and touching the water with his wings and beak and seen by the swan the crow said to him.

Not beholding the limit of the ocean, fatigued and broken down with the exertion of flight the crow said to the swan.

“We are crows, we move about here and there crying caw, caw. O swan, I lay my life at your hands and seek refuge with you. Take me to the bank of the ocean.'

Greatly tired and touching the ocean with his wings and beak the crow all on a sudden fell down.

Beholding him thus fallen into the ocean with a sorry heart the swan addressed the crow

“O crow, how did you praise yourself. Remember, you said that you would course through the sky in a hundred different ways.

You, who would fly in a hundred different ways, are superior to me; why are you then tired and fallen on the ocean?"

Overcome with weakness, the crow, rating his looks up at the swan and trying to please him said.

The crow said "Rendered arrogant by feeding upon the leavings of others' food I thought myself as equal to Garuda and did not care for crows and other birds.

I now seek refure with you and place my life at your disposal. Oh, take me to the shore of some island.

If I, O swan, O lord, return safely to my country I will never disregard any body; Oh, save me from this calamity."

Without a word the swan took him up with his foot and placed him slowly on his back, who said so, was melancholy, weeping, deprived of his sense, was sinking in the ocean, was crying caw! caw, was drenched with water, hedeous to look at and trembling in fear.

Having placed speedily the crow who was besides himself on his back he came to the island from which they had started challenging each other.

Putting that ranger of the sky down (on the land) and comforting him the swan repaired quickly to his wished-for region with the mind.

Thus the crow, fed fat with the leavings, was defeated by the swan. Then casting off the pride of strength and prowess the crow, O Karna, led a peaceful and quiet life.

As that crow, fed upon the refuses of the food of the Vaishya children, did not care his equals and superiors, so do you, O Karna, fed by Dhritarashtra's sons, with the leavings of their food, disregard your equals and superiors.

Why did you not kill Partha at Virata's city when you were protected by Drona and his son Kripa, Bhishma and other Kaurava?

What became of your prowess there when defeated by Kiriti you all fled away like a pack of jackals?

Seeing your brother killed by Savya Sachin in the very presence of the Kuru heroes it was you who fled away first.

When you were assailed by the Gandharvas in the Dvaita forest it was you who, leaving behind the Kurus, did run away from the forest.

Having defeated in battle the Gandharvas led by Chitrasena with a great slaughter it was Arjuna, O Karna, who rescued Duryodhana with his wife.

Rama himself, O Karna, before the assembly of the Kuru heroes spoke of the prowess of Arjuna and Kesava.

You have always heard Drona and Bhishma speaking before all the kings of the two Krishnas as being unslayable.

I have told you only a bit about this that Dhananjaya is superior to you as a Brahmana is to all creatures.

You will soon see stationed on that best of cars the son of Vasudeva and the son of Kunti and Pandu.

As the crow intelligently sought the protection of the swan so do you seek the shelter of the Vrishni hero (Krishna) and of Pandu's son Dhananjaya.

When you will see in battle the highly powerful Vasudeva and Dhananjaya stationed in the same car, you will not utter such words, OKarna.

When Partha with hundreds of shafts break down you pride you will then see the difference between yourself and Dhananjaya.

Those two best of men are well-known among the gods, Asuras and men; you are a fire-fly, do not foolishly disregard those two bright luminaries.

Like the sun and the moon Kesava and Arjuna are famous for their effulgence; you are but a fire-fly among men.

O learned one, O son of a charioteer, do not make light of Arjuna and Achyuta; those two high-souled ones are best of men. Do not make such vaunts. O learned one, O son of a charioteer, do not make light of Arjuna and Achyuta; those two high-souled ones are best of men. Do not make such vaunts.