Arjuna’s Advance toward Bhīṣma; The Gāṇḍīva’s Signal and the Armies’ Convergence (भीष्माभिमुखगमनम् — गाण्डीवनिर्घोष-ध्वजवर्णनम्)
भक्तश्न कुलपुत्रश्न शूरश्न पृतनापति: । युक्त तस्य परित्राणं कर्तुमस्माभिरच्युत,“राजा भगदत्त कुलीन, शूरवीर, हमारे भक्त और सेनापति हैं। अतः अच्युत! हमें उनकी रक्षा अवश्य करनी चाहिये”
sañjaya uvāca | bhaktaś ca kula-putraś ca śūraś ca pṛtanā-patiḥ | yuktaṃ tasya paritrāṇaṃ kartum asmābhir acyuta |
Sañjaya berkata: “Raja Bhagadatta ialah sekutu setia kita, berdarah bangsawan, seorang wira teruji, dan panglima angkatan perang. Oleh itu, wahai Acyuta, wajarlah dan menjadi tanggungjawab kita untuk melindunginya.”
संजय उवाच
The verse frames protection of a loyal ally as a matter of propriety (yuktam) and duty: devotion, noble conduct, and service in leadership create reciprocal obligations in wartime—one should safeguard those who stand faithfully with one’s side.
In the battlefield context, Sañjaya reports an appeal addressed to Kṛṣṇa (Acyuta) urging that Bhagadatta—described as devoted, noble, heroic, and an army-commander—should be protected, emphasizing alliance-duty amid the unfolding combat.