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
சஞ்சயன் கூறினான்—ஓ வல்லவனே! (அவன்) பொன்னால் ஆன தண்டம் உடைய, முனை மங்காத, எண்ணெயால் கழுவி மிகத் தூய்மையாகப் பொலிந்த சக்தியை கண்டான்; நாவை நக்குவது போலத் துடிக்கும் மகாவிஷ நாககன்னியைப் போல் அது தோன்றியது.
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.
Ask anything about this verse
Curious about the meaning, context, or a word? Ask, and continue the conversation in the Vedapath app.
A free Google sign-in keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Mahabharata in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with audio, word-by-word meanings, and more.