Krishna Namaskara
भीष्मद्रोणतटा जयद्रथजला गान्धारनीलोत्पला ।
शल्यग्राहवती कृपेणा वहनी कर्णेन वेलाकुला ।
अश्वत्थामविकर्णघोरमकरा दुर्योधनावर्तिनी ।
सोत्तीर्णा खलु पाण्डवै रणनदि कैवर्तकः केशवः ॥४॥

Bhishma drone tata jayadratha jala gandhara nilotpala
Salya grahavati kripena vahani karnena velakula /
Asvatthama vikarna ghora makara duryodhanavartini
Sottirna khalu pandavai rana nadi kaivartakah kesavah // 6 ii

Bhishma drona tada - with Bhishma and Drona as the banks, jayadrathajala - with Jayadratha as the water, gandhara nilotpala - with the King of Gandhara as the blue water-lily, salya grahavati - with Salya as the shark, kripena vahani - with Kripa as the current, karnena velakula - with Karna as the high waves, asvatthamavikarna ghora makara - with Aswathama and Vikarna as the terrible Makaras (a kind of marine animal), duryodhanavartini - with Duryodhana as the whirpool,sa - that, rana nadi - battle river, khalu - indeed, pandavaihi -by the Pandavas, utthirna - crossed over,(with) Kesava - Kesava, kaivartakaha - (as ) the ferryman.


In this verse one of the unique glories of Lord is brought out. - He is aapad bandhava - one who helps in crisis. Usually when there is crisis no body will help; but God invariably comes to your rescue. (But we may not think about Him). His help in the Mahabharata war is the proof. The Pandavas were facing a crisis as their army is comparatively small; and Duryodhana had the advantage of being the ruler. In spite of this tPandavas won the war because of the invisible grace of Lord Krishna. Madhusudana Sarasvathi visualizes the Mahabharata war as a huge flooded river having Bhishma and Drona as the banks (tada) Jayadratha as water whose depth cannot be measured, - gandhara nila utpala gandhara as dark rock or granite(another version - nila utpala - blue water lily). King of Gandhara is Sakuni. If a person gets trapped in the dark rocks he will be killed; so also with Sakuni, salya grahavati - Powerful king Salya is like a shark or crocodile; kripena vahani. - Kripa as powerful current. Karnena velaakula - Karna as high waves; Asvatthama, and Vikarna as the huge whale or fish; Duryodhana is the Whirlpool. Each of the above make the river dangerous and difficult to cross. Since Pandavas had an unique boatman, Krishna, they could cross the river with his Grace. Hence Bhagavan is the only person who can help us - apathbandava, artha trana, saranagadha vathsala. To such a god, Krishna I give our salutation.