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 ||
三阇耶说道:“噢,婆罗多啊,他随后以歪斜紧蹙的眉目盯住圣克里希那,身躯只半截抬起,宛如一条暴怒的毒蛇被斩断了尾巴。那一刻,难敌王就像那凶猛的毒蛇——因尾断而不能全身昂起,却仍以半身竖起,怒目而视。”
संजय उवाच
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.