Translation:-Now when the great ocean, namely, Bhishma has been crossed, the great fire, namely, Drona has been put out, the venomous snake, namely Karna, has been killed and Shalya has passed away to the other world in fact, when but a little is wanting to make our triumph complete - Bhima who is such a lover of adventure has recklessly thrown us all here into jeopardy of life by his utterance (namely, the declaration mentioned above.)
Yudhishthira means that. Bhima's thoughtless pledge may fail to be redeemed within the short time specified and then he may have to put an end to his own life and, if he should die, all those who held him dear, might also die of grief.
The similitude's employed in this stanza are appropriate and serve to indicate the comparative Worth of the heroes mentioned. Thus Bhishma is well compared to the vast and deep ocean difficult to cross ; Drona, to a great and terrific fire difficult to extinguish; and Karna, to a vindictive snake which it is dangerous to let go alive ; while Shalya, a very tame hero in comparison with his predecessors, is spoken of in plain language as having passed away.
अपर्युषिताम्--The negative of पर्युषिता, fem. of the past pass. part. of बस with परि; पर्युषित means (I) 'Standing overnight,' hence, (2) ' stale ' also ; here, however, the word is used in sense (I) and so अपर्युषिता means 'not standing overnight'; thus अपर्युपिता प्रतिज्ञा means 'solemn declaration that must not stand unfulfilled overnight, i.e. must be fulfilled this very day ( विलम्बासड़ा प्रतिज्ञा).
The gerund उपलभ्य goes with the past part, प्रनष्टस्य (कौरवराजस्य) who has disappeared on coming to know of Bhima's declaration which admits of no delay but must be executed this very day.
पदवी-The path one has gone by or trodden ; the track.
अतिनिपुणमतयः-Very shrewd and resourceful.
तेषु तेषु स्थानेषु परमार्थाभिज्ञाः--Acquainted with the ins and outs of different localities. Of the two explanations of the compound परमार्थाभिज्ञाः, namely, परमार्थतः अभिज्ञाः and परमार्थस्य अभिज्ञाः I am inclined to prefer the latter, चराः spies. भक्तिमन्तः loyal, devoted.
