Shloka 28
Adhyāya 143: Nocturnal duels—Nākuli and Citraseṇa; Vṛṣasena’s assault; Duḥśāsana vs Prativindhya
एतेन हि महाबाहो रक्षितव्य: स पार्थिव: । तमेष कथमुत्सूज्य मम कृष्ण पदानुग:,“महाबाहो! सात्यकिको तो उन्हींकी रक्षा करनी चाहिये थी। श्रीकृष्ण! उन्हें छोड़कर ये मेरे पीछे कैसे चले आये?
etena hi mahābāho rakṣitavyaḥ sa pārthivaḥ | tameṣa katham utsṛjya mama kṛṣṇa padānugaḥ ||
「大臂の御方よ、王はこの者によって守られるべきであった。おおクリシュナよ、あなたの御足の跡に従う者が、どうして王を捨てて私の後を追って来られようか。」
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in war: protection of the rightful leader is a primary obligation, and abandoning that charge is ethically questionable—even for one otherwise devoted to Kṛṣṇa.
Sañjaya reports a moment of surprise and reproach: Sātyaki, who should have been guarding the king, has left that duty and come after Sañjaya; Sañjaya addresses Kṛṣṇa, emphasizing Sātyaki’s devotion as a follower of Kṛṣṇa’s path.