अङ्गुष्ठाक्रान्तकौन्तेयरथश्शक्तोऽहिशीर्षजित् ।कालकोपप्रशमनो भीमसेनजयप्रदः॥
aṅguṣṭhākrāntakauntēyarathaśśaktō'hiśīrṣajit ·kālakōpapraśamanō bhīmasēnajayapradaḥ
who pressed Arjuna's chariot down with his thumb
saving Arjuna from Karṇa's snake-arrow
When Karṇa's snake-arrow aims at Arjuna's neck, Kṛṣṇa presses the chariot into the earth with his thumb, lowering it enough for the arrow to take Arjuna's crown instead of his head.
the all-capable
who overcame the serpent-head (Aśvasena)
Aśvasena (the cobra-spirit within Karṇa's snake-arrow) is directed at Arjuna; Kṛṣṇa's lowering of the chariot frustrates it; the text identifies Kṛṣṇa as the conqueror of the serpent-head.
who calmed the wrath of Time
who gave Bhīmasena victory
over Duryodhana in the mace-duel
Kṛṣṇa strategically reveals to Bhīma that Duryodhana's thighs are the weak point and that striking them (contrary to warrior code) is the only way to win; Bhīma follows this and kills Duryodhana.
