Shloka 28
Uddhava’s Counsel: The Jarāsandha Resolution and Kṛṣṇa’s Arrival at Indraprastha
अर्जुनेन परिष्वक्तो यमाभ्यामभिवादित: । ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नमस्कृत्य वृद्धेभ्यश्च यथार्हत: । मानिनो मानयामास कुरुसृञ्जयकैकयान् ॥ २८ ॥
arjunena pariṣvakto yamābhyām abhivāditaḥ brāhmaṇebhyo namaskṛtya vṛddhebhyaś ca yathārhataḥ mānino mānayām āsa kuru-sṛñjaya-kaikayān
After Arjuna embraced Him again and Nakula and Sahadeva offered their obeisances, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa bowed properly to the brāhmaṇas and elders present. Thus He honored the venerable members of the Kuru, Sṛñjaya, and Kaikaya clans.
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī mentions that since Arjuna was considered Lord Kṛṣṇa’s social equal, when Arjuna tried to bow down to Him, Lord Kṛṣṇa held Arjuna by his arms so that he could only embrace Him. The twins, however, being junior cousins, bowed down and grasped Lord Kṛṣṇa’s feet.
FAQs
This verse shows Kṛṣṇa Himself offering obeisances to brāhmaṇas and honoring elders appropriately, establishing respect for spiritual wisdom and seniority as essential dharma.
In the Indraprastha setting, the Pāṇḍavas receive Kṛṣṇa with familial affection and formal respect, reflecting both intimate devotion and royal/proper etiquette.
Offer due respect to teachers, elders, and spiritually learned persons, and cultivate humility—honor people appropriately without pride, as Kṛṣṇa models.