Shloka 43
अध्याय ९ — दुर्योधनस्य अन्त्यावस्था, विलापः, तथा सौप्तिक-प्रतिवृत्तम्
Duryodhana’s Final Condition, Lamentation, and the Night’s Report
आचार्य पूजयित्वा च केतु सर्वधनुष्मताम्
ācāryaṁ pūjayitvā ca ketuṁ sarvadhanuṣmatām
Sañjaya said: Having duly honored the teacher, and also Ketu—the foremost among all archers—(he proceeded further), marking a deliberate act of reverence even amid the harsh momentum of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in a violent and morally fraught setting, the verse foregrounds the ethic of honoring one’s teacher and acknowledged excellence. It reflects a dharmic ideal: reverence and gratitude toward the ācārya are not to be discarded when circumstances become extreme.
Sañjaya narrates that the actor in the episode first pays homage to the ācārya and to Ketu, described as preeminent among archers, before moving on to the next action. The line functions as a transitional narrative detail emphasizing ritualized respect within the war narrative.