Shloka 63
बलेन चतुरड्रेण गाड्रेयमन्वपालयन् । राजा दुर्योधनकी यह बात सुनकर सब महारथी बड़ी उतावलीके साथ वहाँ आये और चतुरंगिणी सेनाद्वारा गंगानन्दन भीष्मकी रक्षा करने लगे ।। ६२ ह ।। बाह्लीक: कृतवर्मा च शल: शल्यश्न भारत
sañjaya uvāca | balena caturaṅgreṇa gāṅgeyam anvapālayan | bāhlīkaḥ kṛtavarmā ca śalaḥ śalyaś ca bhārata ||
Sañjaya said: With the strength of the fourfold army they kept watch over and protected Bhīṣma, the son of the Gaṅgā. O Bhārata, Bāhlīka, Kṛtavarmā, Śala, and Śalya were among those who came forward to guard the grandsire in the press of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: safeguarding the commander (Bhīṣma) through coordinated force. Ethically, it underscores loyalty and duty within one’s chosen allegiance, even as the wider war remains morally fraught.
After hearing Duryodhana’s words, leading Kaurava-side warriors assemble and, using the fourfold army formation, take up positions to protect Bhīṣma on the battlefield; Bāhlīka, Kṛtavarmā, Śala, and Śalya are named among them.