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 ||
क्रुद्धस्याशीविषस्येव छिन्नपुच्छस्य भारत। ततः स भृकुटीं कृत्वा वक्रभ्रूः कृष्णमवैक्षत, अर्धोन्नततनू राजा दुर्योधनः प्रतापवान्॥ छिन्नपुच्छो यथा सर्पो न शक्नोति समुच्छ्रितुम्, तथैव स नृपोऽर्धेन देहेनैव व्यलोकयत्॥
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.