Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 9
धृतराष्ट्रं पुरस्कृत्य गान्धारीं च यशस्विनीम् । मातरं च पृथां धीमान् भ्रातृश्न पुरुषर्षभान्
vaiśampāyana uvāca | dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ puraskṛtya gāndhārīṃ ca yaśasvinīm | mātaraṃ ca pṛthāṃ dhīmān bhrātṝṃś ca puruṣarṣabhān, vibho | kurukulānandano buddhimān yudhiṣṭhiro rājā dhṛtarāṣṭraṃ yaśasvinīṃ gāndhārīṃ devīṃ mātaraṃ kuntīṃ tathā puruṣapravarān bhrātṝn agre kṛtvā paścāt bhagavān śrīkṛṣṇo buddhimān viduro yuyutsuḥ sātyakiś ca saha gacchanti sma |
Vaiśampāyana said: Placing Dhṛtarāṣṭra in the forefront, and also the illustrious Gāndhārī, and their mother Pṛthā (Kuntī), along with the bull-like brothers—O mighty one—King Yudhiṣṭhira, the wise delight of the Kuru line, proceeded with them leading the way; and behind them followed the Blessed Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the prudent Vidura, Yuyutsu, and Sātyaki. The scene underscores Yudhiṣṭhira’s deliberate courtesy and dharmic restraint: even after victory, he honors elders and the bereaved, maintaining social and moral order through respectful conduct.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in triumph, a ruler should uphold dharma through humility and proper honor: Yudhiṣṭhira gives precedence to elders and the bereaved (Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Gāndhārī), modeling ethical kingship grounded in restraint, respect, and social harmony.
A formal movement/procession is described: Yudhiṣṭhira proceeds with Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Gāndhārī, and Kuntī placed in front along with the Pāṇḍava brothers, while Kṛṣṇa, Vidura, Yuyutsu, and Sātyaki follow behind—highlighting protocol and the emotional-political delicacy after the war.