र्वीकरा मण्डलिनो राजीमन्तश्च पन्नगाः । त्रिधा समासतो भौमा भिद्यन्ते ते त्वनेकधा ॥ १ ॥
Snakes living on earth, in brief, are of three kinds viz, Darvikara (those having a hood), Mandalina (those having patches on their body) and Rajimanta (those having patches on their body);
व्यासतो योनिभेदेन नोच्यन्तेऽनुपयोगिनः । विशेषाद्रूक्षकटुकमम्लोष्णं स्वादुशीतलम् ॥ २ ॥
considered species wisethey are of many kinds, which are not described in detail here since it is not useful (for Ayurveda). Dry (non- unctuous, viscid) and pungent, sour and hot, sweet and cold are the qualities respectively of poison especially of Darvikara, etc.
विषं दर्वीकरादीनां क्रमाद्वातादिकोपनम् । तारुण्यमध्यवृद्धत्वे वृष्टिशीतातपेषु च ॥ ३ ॥
these cause aggravation of Vata etc. respectively. They (darvikara etc.) become loaded with more poison during their youth, middle age and old age, rainy, cold and summer seasons respectively;
umbrella, swastika or anchor on their hoods, moving swiftlyare called darvikara. Snakes which have no hood, covered with patchesof different sizes on their body, big in size and slow in movement are known as Mandalina.