Shloka 253
Duryodhana Seeks Droṇa’s Counsel; Imperative to Protect Jayadratha; Pāñcāla Assault on Duryodhana
अविध्यत रणे राजन् शरैराशीविषोपमै: । राजन्! इसी समय दुर्योधनने रणक्षेत्रमें विषधर सर्पके समान भयंकर नौ-नौ बाणोंसे श्रीकृष्ण और अर्जुनको घायल कर दिया
avidyhat raṇe rājan śarair āśīviṣopamaiḥ |
अविध्यद् रणे राजन् शरैराशीविषोपमैः। तदा दुर्योधनो युद्धे कृष्णार्जुनौ नवभिर्नवभिः शरैः क्षतवान्।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral tension of war: martial prowess can become ‘serpent-like’—swift and poisonous—when driven by hostility. It implicitly warns that even in kṣatriya duty, violence tests self-control and ethical discernment, as actions in rage deepen suffering and karmic consequence.
Sañjaya reports to King Dhṛtarāṣṭra that Duryodhana, in the midst of the battle, shoots terrifying arrows—compared to venomous serpents—and wounds both Kṛṣṇa (as charioteer) and Arjuna, using nine arrows for each.