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 dit : Plaçant Dhṛtarāṣṭra en tête, ainsi que l’illustre Gāndhārī et leur mère Pṛthā (Kuntī), avec les frères, taureaux parmi les hommes—ô puissant—le roi Yudhiṣṭhira, sage gloire de la lignée des Kuru, s’avança en les faisant marcher devant; et derrière eux suivaient le Bienheureux Śrī Kṛṣṇa, le prudent Vidura, Yuyutsu et Sātyaki. La scène met en lumière la courtoisie réfléchie et la retenue conforme au dharma de Yudhiṣṭhira : même après la victoire, il honore les aînés et les endeuillés, maintenant l’ordre social et moral par une conduite respectueuse.
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.