Shloka - Misc 14

Published on 15 October 2017 04:30 PM
भीष्मद्रोणतटा जयद्रथजला गान्धारनीलोत्पला
शल्यग्राहवती कृपेण वहनी कर्णेन वेलाकुला ।
अश्वत्थामविकर्णघोरमकरा दुर्योधनावर्तिनी
सोत्तीर्णा खलु पाण्डवै रणनदी कैवर्तकः केशवः ॥

Meaning:
With Bhishma and Drona as its banks, Jayadratha as its water, Gandhar as the blue lilies in it, Shalya as the crocodile, Kripa as its mighty flow, Karna as the turbulent waves, Ashvatthama and Vikarna as sharks, and Duryodhana as vortices in it, the river of the Mahabharata war was crossed (won) by the Pandavas, indeed due to the able boatman Krishna.

Word meanings:
रणनदी = river as a metaphor for the mahAbhArata war;
भीष्मद्रोणतटा = whose banks are bhIShma and droNa;
जयद्रथजला = with jayadratha as water;
गान्धारनीलोत्पला = with gAndhAr as blue lily;
शल्यग्राहवती = having shalya as a crocodile/shark;
कृपेण वहनी = with kR'ipA as the river flow;
कर्णेन वेलाकुला = and karNa as its breakers;
अश्वत्थामविकर्णघोरमकरा = ashvatthAmA and vikarNa as fearsome sharks;
दुर्योधन आवर्तिनी= duryodhana as whirlpools;
स = that (fem) (river);
उत्तीर्णा = crossed over;
खलु = indeed;
पाण्डवैः = by the pANDavas;
कैवर्तकः = the boatman;
केशवः = kR'iShNa;