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
Sañjaya berkata: “Wahai yang perkasa, (baginda melihat) suatu senjata bertangkai emas, hujungnya tidak tumpul, digilap dengan minyak dan amat bersih—laksana gadis-ular yang berbisa maut, seolah-olah menjilat-jilatkan lidahnya.” Gambaran ini menegaskan bahawa dalam perang, bahkan alat yang dibuat seindah-indahnya pun menjadi lambang niat membunuh, di mana keindahan dan kilau tidak terpisah daripada bahaya.
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.