अभीषाहा: शूरसेना: शिबयो5थ वसातय: । शाल्वाश्रयास्त्रिगर्ताश्न॒ अम्बष्ठा: केकयै: सह
abhīṣāhāḥ śūrasenāḥ śibayo 'tha vasātayaḥ | śālvāśrayās trigartāś ca ambaṣṭhāḥ kekayaiḥ saha ||
Sañjaya said: The Abhīṣāhas, the Śūrasenas, the Śibis, and the Vasātis; those who had taken refuge with the Śālvas, the Trigartas, and the Ambaṣṭhas together with the Kekayas—all these high-spirited warriors, though pierced by arrows and suffering from wounds, still could not abandon Bhīṣma on the battlefield as he fought Arjuna.
संजय उवाच
The verse highlights steadfast loyalty and the kṣatriya ideal of not abandoning one’s commander in battle, even under severe injury—an ethic of duty and solidarity amid the harsh realities of war.
Sañjaya lists several allied peoples fighting on the Kaurava side and notes that, though wounded by Arjuna’s arrows, they remain on the field with Bhīṣma and do not leave him as he continues to engage Arjuna.