Mahabharata — Shalya Parva, Shloka 39
शल्यस्य पाण्डवसेनापीडनम् — Śalya’s Assault on the Pāṇḍava Host
with Omens and Bhīma’s Counter
स्वर्णदण्डामकुण्ठाग्रां तैलधौतां सुनिर्मलाम् । लेलिहानामिव विभो नागकन्यां महाविषाम्
svarṇadaṇḍām akuṇṭhāgrāṃ tailadhautāṃ sunirmalām | lelihānām iva vibho nāgakanyāṃ mahāviṣām
સંજય બોલ્યો—હે પ્રભુ! (તેણે) સોનાના દંડવાળી, અણકુંઠ અગ્રભાગ ધરાવતી, તેલથી ધોઈ અત્યંત નિર્મળ એવી શક્તિ જોઈ; જીભ લેલિહાન કરતી મહાવિષાળી નાગકન્યા જેવી તે જણાતી હતી.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a striking simile to show that in warfare, splendor and craftsmanship can mask mortal danger: what appears beautiful and pure can still be an instrument of destruction, urging ethical reflection on the seductive nature of power and violence.
Sañjaya, narrating events to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, describes a gleaming, oil-polished, sharp-pointed weapon with a golden shaft, comparing its deadly readiness to a highly venomous serpent-maiden flicking her tongue.
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