What is the source of this Sanskrit verse?

This subhashitam is from Subhashitam.

What are the key themes of this verse?

The key themes of this subhashitam are: wicked, snake, cruelty, mantra.

All Subhashitams

सर्पः क्रूरः खलः क्रूरः

Subhashitam

सर्पः क्रूरः खलः क्रूरः सर्पात् क्रूरतरः खलः । सर्पः शाम्यति मन्त्रैश्च दुर्जनः केन शाम्यति ॥

सर्पःserpent

क्रूरःcruel

खलःwicked person

क्रूरतरःcrueler

शाम्यतिis pacified

मन्त्रैःby mantras

दुर्जनःwicked person

The serpent is cruel, the wicked man is cruel; but the wicked is even crueler than the serpent. A serpent can be pacified with mantras, but by what means can the wicked man be pacified?

wickedsnakecrueltymantra

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निर्विषेणापि सर्पेणEven a non-poisonous snake should raise its hood fully. Whether or not it actually holds poison, the fearsome display is itself enough to strike terror.Chanakya Niti
सर्पदुर्जनयोर्मध्येBetween a serpent and a wicked person, the serpent is better. The serpent bites only rarely while the wicked causes pain at every step.Subhashitam
वृश्चिकस्य विषं पुच्छेThe scorpion's poison is in its tail, the fly's in its head, the serpent's in its fang; but the wicked person's poison pervades his entire body.Subhashitam
दुर्जनः प्रियवादीतिNever trust a wicked person even if speaking sweetly; there may be honey on his tongue but poison in his heart.Subhashitam

सर्पः क्रूरः खलः क्रूरः

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