Shloka 23
कुरुक्षेत्रे सेनानिवेशवृत्तान्तः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra Questions Saṃjaya on the Deployed Armies
वासुदेवपुरोगास्तं सर्व एवाभ्यवादयन् | विराटद्रुपदौ वृद्धावभिवाद्य हलायुध:
vāsudevapurogāstaṃ sarva evābhyavadayan | virāṭadrupadau vṛddhāvabhivādya halāyudhaḥ ||
Dengan Vāsudeva di depan, semuanya memberi salam hormat kepadanya. Lalu Halāyudha (Balarāma), setelah memberi penghormatan kepada raja-raja sepuh Virāṭa dan Drupada, bertindak sesuai tata krama.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in politically charged moments, dharma is maintained through proper conduct—showing reverence to elders and honoring allied kings; etiquette becomes an ethical discipline that preserves social order.
A group led by Vāsudeva offers salutations; Balarāma (Halāyudha) specifically pays respects to the senior kings Virāṭa and Drupada, marking formal courtesies among allies as events move toward the great war.