Of that terrifying river

—6—

Of that terrifying river
Of the battlefield of Kurukṣetra,
Over which the Pāṇḍavas victoriously crossed,
Bhīṣma and Droṇa were like the high banks,
Jayadratha like the river's water,
The King of Gāndhāra the blue water-lily,
Śalya the shark, Kṛpa the current,
Karṇa the mighty waves,
Aśvatthāmā and Vikarṇa the dread alligators,
And Duryodhana the very whirlpool—
But Thou, O Kṛṣṇa, wast the ferryman!