Shloka 2

पाण्डवपरिचयः—विराटसभायां प्रकाशनम्

Identification of the Pāṇḍavas in Virāṭa’s Court

Devanagari script

सो<मृष्यमाणो वचसाभिमृष्टो महारथेनातिरथस्तरस्वी । पर्याववर्ताथ रथेन वीरो भोगी यथा पादतलाभिमृष्ट:,महारथी कुन्तीकुमारने अपने वचनोंद्वारा उसका तिरस्कार किया था; अतः वह वेगशाली अतिरथी वीर इस अपमानको न सह सका, अतएव जैसे पैरोंसे कुचला हुआ सर्प बदला लेनेके लिये लौट पड़ता है, उसी प्रकार दुर्योधन अपने रथके साथ लौट आया

Transliteration

so ’mṛṣyamāṇo vacasābhimṛṣṭo mahārathenātirathas tarasvī | paryāvavartātha rathena vīro bhogī yathā pādatalābhimṛṣṭaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Stung by the words that had insulted him, the swift and mighty atiratha could not endure the affront. The hero wheeled his chariot back—like a serpent, trampled underfoot, turning again to strike in retaliation—and so Duryodhana returned with his chariot.

Word by Word

सःhe

अमृष्यमाणःnot enduring, unable to bear

वचसाby words, with speech

अभिमृष्टःinsulted, affronted (lit. touched/struck)

महारथेनby the great chariot-warrior

अतिरथःthe super-chariot-warrior

तरस्वीswift, impetuous

पर्याववर्तturned back, wheeled around

अथthen

रथेनwith the chariot

वीरःthe hero

भोगीa serpent

यथाas, just as

पादतलाभिमृष्टःtrodden underfoot (touched by the sole of the foot)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

mahāratha (a great chariot-warrior)

atiratha (an elite chariot-warrior)

ratha (chariot)

bhogī (serpent)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical danger of harsh or humiliating speech: it wounds pride, provokes anger, and can cause a person to return with greater hostility—like a trampled serpent turning to bite. Restraint in words and patience in receiving criticism are implied safeguards against escalation.

What is happening in the narrative?

A powerful warrior, insulted by another’s words, cannot bear the affront and turns his chariot back to retaliate. The simile of a serpent crushed underfoot conveys the sudden reversal and the intent to strike back.