द्रोण–सात्यकि-युद्धम्
Droṇa–Sātyaki Engagement
अश्वत्थामा यथा तात रक्षणीयस्त्वयानघ । तथाहमपि ते रक्ष्य: सदैव द्विजसत्तम,“तात! निष्पाप द्विजश्रेष्ठ! जैसे अश्वत्थामा आपके लिये रक्षणीय हैं, उसी प्रकार मैं भी सदैव आपसे संरक्षण पानेका अधिकारी हूँ
aśvatthāmā yathā tāta rakṣaṇīyas tvayānagha | tathāham api te rakṣyaḥ sadaiva dvijasattama ||
হে তাত, হে নিষ্পাপ দ্বিজশ্ৰেষ্ঠ! যেনেকৈ অশ্বত্থামা আপোনাৰ দ্বাৰা ৰক্ষণীয়, তেনেকৈ মইও সদায় আপোনাৰ ৰক্ষাৰ অধিকাৰী।
संजय उवाच
The verse emphasizes dharma as protective responsibility: those bound by relationship, trust, or dependence may claim guardianship as a rightful duty, especially from a morally respected elder (dvijasattama).
Sañjaya speaks, voicing a plea that he too should receive the same protection granted to Aśvatthāmā, using respectful kinship and moral epithets to strengthen the request in a tense wartime setting.