Shloka 19
Udyoga Parva Adhyāya 58 — Saṃjaya’s Audience and Kṛṣṇa’s Deterrent Counsel (संजय-प्रवेशः कृष्णवाक्यं च)
आवयोर्वचनात् सूत ज्येष्ठानप्यभिवादयन् । यवीयसश्व कुशल पश्चात् पृष्टवैवमुत्तरम्
āvayor vacanāt sūta jyeṣṭhān apy abhivādayan | yavīyasaś ca kuśalaṁ paścāt pṛṣṭvaivam uttaram ||
वायुदेव ने कहा—हे सूत! हम दोनों की ओर से पहले तुम आयु और मर्यादा में श्रेष्ठ पुरुषों को प्रणाम करना; फिर जो हमसे छोटे हों, उनकी कुशल पूछना। इसके बाद हमारा यह उत्तर सुना देना।
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches dharmic etiquette in communication: honor elders with salutations, show care for juniors by asking after their welfare, and only then deliver one’s message. Proper order and courtesy are presented as ethical discipline.
Vāyu-deva instructs a sūta acting as a messenger: before conveying their formal reply, he must first greet senior persons respectfully and inquire about the well-being of those younger, establishing a courteous and dharmic setting for the message.