Shloka 40
दानपात्रापात्र-निर्णयः / Determining Worthy Gifts, Recipients, and Permissible Food
नरयानेन तु ज्येष्ठ: पिता पार्थस्य भारत । अग्रतो धर्मराजस्य गान्धारीसहितो ययौ,भरतनन्दन! कुन्तीपुत्र धर्मराज युधिष्ठिरके ज्येष्ठ पिता (ताऊ) गान्धारीसहित पालकीमें बैठकर उनके आगे-आगे जा रहे थे
narayānena tu jyeṣṭhaḥ pitā pārthasya bhārata | agrato dharmarājasya gāndhārīsahito yayau ||
Vaiśampāyana said: O Bhārata, the eldest father (paternal elder) of Pārtha—accompanied by Gāndhārī—proceeded in a palanquin, moving ahead of Dharmarāja. The scene underscores the continued observance of seniority and propriety: even amid the aftermath of war, the elders are honored and placed foremost, while the king follows in respectful order.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic social order: elders and senior relatives are accorded precedence and honor, and the ruler himself follows proper decorum. Even after catastrophic conflict, ethical conduct is shown through restraint, respect, and adherence to rightful hierarchy.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that the senior paternal elder of the Pāṇḍavas (understood as Dhṛtarāṣṭra) travels ahead of King Yudhiṣṭhira in a palanquin, accompanied by Gāndhārī, indicating a formal procession in which the elders are placed in front.