Shloka 28
कर्णेन युधिष्ठिरानीकविदारणम् / Karṇa’s Breach of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Battle-Line
दश नागपतीनीषां धृतराष्ट्रमुखांस्तदा । योक्त्राणि चक्रुर्नागांश्व॒ नि:श्वसन्तो महोरगान्,धृतराष्ट्र आदि दस नागराजोंको भी ईषादण्डमें ही स्थान दिया। फुफकारते हुए बड़े-बड़े सर्पोंको उस रथके जोत बनाये
daśa nāgapati-nīṣāṃ dhṛtarāṣṭra-mukhāṃs tadā | yoktrāṇi cakrur nāgāṃś ca niḥśvasanto mahoragān |
Duryodhana said: “Then those ten serpent-lords—headed by Dhṛtarāṣṭra—were assigned their places upon the pole of the chariot, and the great, hissing serpents were fashioned into the yoke-ropes.”
दुर्योधन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses mythic, fearsome imagery—serpents turned into harness—to underscore how the pursuit of victory can become rooted in intimidation and domination rather than dharma. It implicitly contrasts righteous strength with power that relies on terror and unnatural coercion.
Duryodhana describes a chariot arrangement in which ten serpent-kings, led by one named Dhṛtarāṣṭra, are positioned on the chariot’s pole, and great hissing serpents are made into the yoke-ropes—an ominous depiction of martial preparation.