Shloka 3
एवं सर्वान् कुरून् वृद्धानभिवाद्य यतव्रता: । समालिज्गय समानान् वै बालैश्लाप्पभिवादिता:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! वायुके समान वेगशाली उत्तम घोड़ोंसे जुते हुए रथोंपर चढ़नेके लिये उद्यत हो उत्तम व्रतको धारण करनेवाले पाण्डवोंने अत्यन्त दुःखी-से होकर पितामह भीष्मके दोनों चरणोंका स्पर्श किया। तत्पश्चात् राजा धृतराष्ट्र, महात्मा द्रोण, कृपाचार्य, विदुर तथा दूसरे बड़े-बूढ़ोंको प्रणाम किया। इस प्रकार क्रमश: सभी वृद्ध कौरवोंको प्रणाम करके समान अवस्थावाले लोगोंको हृदयसे लगाया। फिर बालकोंने आकर पाण्डवोंको प्रणाम किया
evaṁ sarvān kurūn vṛddhān abhivādya yatavratāḥ | samāliṅgya samānān vai bālaiś cāpy abhivāditāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Having duly saluted all the elder Kurus, the Pāṇḍavas—steadfast in their vows and disciplined in conduct—embraced those of their own age as equals; and thereafter they were in turn saluted by the children.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic etiquette: elders are to be honored with formal salutations, peers are to be treated with warmth and equality (embrace), and juniors express respect through salutations—sustaining harmony and moral order within the family and society.
The Pandavas complete a sequence of courtesies: they first salute the senior members of the Kuru house, then embrace those of similar standing, and finally receive salutations from the children, marking a socially and ethically proper departure/transition in the episode.