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 ||
Sabi ni Sañjaya: “O Bhārata, gaya ng isang nagngangalit na makamandag na ahas na naputulan ng buntot, saka niya tinitigan si Śrī Kṛṣṇa nang nakakunot at baluktot ang mga kilay, at kalahati lamang ng katawan ang naiangat. Noon, ang anyo ni Haring Duryodhana ay tulad ng mabangis na ahas na iyon—hindi maitaas ang buong katawan dahil putol ang buntot, ngunit nag-aangat pa rin ng kalahati upang manlilisik sa galit.”
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.