Shloka 69
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 |
三阇耶说道：“婆伽达多王是我方虔诚的盟友，出身高贵，久经沙场的勇士，亦是统军之将。因此，阿周陀啊，由我们来护卫他，既合乎正道，也责无旁贷。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.