Shloka 2536
Duryodhana-śibira-praveśaḥ — The Pāṇḍavas Enter the Kaurava Camp; The Burning of Arjuna’s Chariot
क्ुद्धस्याशीविषस्येव च्छिन्नपुच्छस्य भारत । तत्पश्चात् उसने श्रीकृष्णकी ओर भौंहें टेढ़ी करके देखा
kruddhasyāśīviṣasyeva chinnapucchasya bhārata | tatpaścāt sa tu śrīkṛṣṇaṃ prati bhruvau kuṭilīkṛtya dadarśa, tasya śarīrārdhaṃ samunnatam āsīt | tadā rājā duryodhanasya rūpaṃ kupitaviṣadharasya sadṛśaṃ babhūva, yaḥ pucchacchedāt śarīrārdham eva samunnīya paśyati ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai Bhārata, bagaikan ular berbisa yang mengamuk dengan ekor terpenggal, ia memandang Śrī Kṛṣṇa dengan alis berkerut dan miring; tubuhnya terangkat hanya separuh. Saat itu Raja Duryodhana tampak seperti ular murka itu—tak mampu menegakkan seluruh tubuh karena ekornya terputus, namun tetap menegak dengan setengah badan untuk menatap tajam.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a vivid simile to show that anger and wounded ego can remain dangerous even after one’s strength is crippled. A leader who clings to hostility after defeat becomes like a maimed but still venomous snake—capable of harm, yet no longer guided by restraint or dharma.
Sañjaya describes Duryodhana, physically impaired and emotionally inflamed, glaring at Kṛṣṇa with a hostile frown. His half-raised posture is compared to a tail-cut serpent that can only lift part of its body, emphasizing both his injury and his continuing menace.