Shloka 21

बिलस्थं कृष्णसर्प त्वं बाल्यात्‌ काछेन विध्यसि । महाविषं॑ पूर्णकोप॑ं यत्‌ पार्थ योद्धुमिच्छसि,“तुम यदि पूर्णतः क्रोधमें भरे हुए अर्जुनके साथ जूझना चाहते हो तो मूर्खतावश बिलमें बैठे हुए महाविषैले काले सर्पको किसी काठकी छड़ीसे बींध रहे हो

bilasthaṃ kṛṣṇasarpa tvaṃ bālyāt kāṣṭhena vidhyasi | mahāviṣaṃ pūrṇakopaṃ yat pārtha yoddhum icchasi ||

Sañjaya nói: “Trong sự dại dột trẻ con, ngươi đang dùng gậy chọc con rắn đen cực độc đang nằm trong hang. Cũng vậy, nếu ngươi thật muốn giao chiến với Pārtha (Arjuna) khi chàng đầy cơn thịnh nộ—như một mãng xà độc dữ đang bừng bừng—thì ngươi đang tự rước hiểm họa sẽ bật lại chính mình.”

बिलस्थम्situated in a hole
बिलस्थम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootबिलस्थ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
कृष्णसर्पम्black serpent
कृष्णसर्पम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकृष्णसर्प
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
त्वम्you
त्वम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootयुष्मद्
FormNominative, Singular
बाल्यात्from childishness; out of folly
बाल्यात्:
Hetu (cause)
TypeNoun
Rootबाल्य
FormNeuter, Ablative, Singular
काष्ठेनwith a stick/wooden staff
काष्ठेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootकाष्ठ
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
विध्यसिyou pierce; you stab
विध्यसि:
TypeVerb
Rootव्यध्
FormPresent, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada, Active
महाविषम्highly venomous
महाविषम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमहाविष
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
पूर्णकोपम्full of wrath; in complete rage
पूर्णकोपम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootपूर्णकोप
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
यत्since; because; in that (you)
यत्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयद्
पार्थम्Pārtha (Arjuna)
पार्थम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपार्थ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
योद्धुम्to fight
योद्धुम्:
TypeVerb
Rootयुध्
FormTumun (infinitive)
इच्छसिyou desire; you wish
इच्छसि:
TypeVerb
Rootइष्
FormPresent, Second, Singular, Parasmaipada, Active

संजय उवाच

S
Sañjaya
P
Pārtha (Arjuna)
B
black serpent (kṛṣṇasarpa)
B
burrow/hole (bila)
S
stick/wooden rod (kāṣṭha)

Educational Q&A

Do not provoke or challenge a superior and dangerous force out of pride or immaturity; anger magnifies power, and reckless aggression invites self-destruction. The verse frames ethical prudence in war: discern strength, timing, and consequences before engaging.

Sañjaya uses a vivid simile—prodding a venomous black snake in its burrow—to caution against taking on Arjuna when he is fully enraged. The image underscores the folly of provoking a lethal opponent and foreshadows the peril of confronting Arjuna at his fiercest.