Looking at the Cultural Background
87
Jayadratha as 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!
—7—
May the spotless lotus of the  Mahābhārata  
    That grows on the waters 
    Of the words of Vyāsa 
    And of which the  Bhagavad-gītā  
    Is the irresistibly sweet fragrance 
    And its tales of heroes 
    The full-blown petals 
    Fully opened by the talk of Lord Hari, 
    Who destroys the sins 
    Of Kali-yuga, 
    And on which daily light 
    The nectar-seeking souls, 
    As so many bees 
    Swarming joyously— 
    May this lotus of the  Mahābhārata  
    Bestow on us the highest good.
—8—
Salutations to Lord Kṛṣṇa 
    The embodiment of supreme bliss, 
    By whose grace and compassion 
    The dumb become eloquent 
    And the lame scale mountains— 
    Him I salute!
PURPORT
Foolish followers of foolish speculators cannot understand the meaning of offering salutations to Lord Kṛṣṇa, the embodiment of bliss.