Shloka 29
Kṛṣṇa’s Departure, Auspicious Omens, and the Opening of the Uttaṅka Dialogue (कृष्णप्रयाण-निमित्त-उत्तङ्कसंवाद-प्रारम्भः)
ददृशाते स्त्रिय: सर्वा गान्धारीपरिचारिका: । फिर क्रमश: दुर्जय वीर भीमसेन, माद्रीनन्दन पाण्डुपुत्र नकुल-सहदेव, धृतराष्ट्रकी सेवामें लगे रहनेवाले अपराजित वीर युयुत्सु, परम बुद्धिमती गान्धारी, कुन्ती, भार्या द्रौपदी तथा सुभद्रा आदि भरतवंशकी सभी स्त्रियोंसे मिले। गान्धारीकी सेवामें रहनेवाली उन सभी स्त्रियोंका उन दोनोंने दर्शन किया || २७-२८ $ ।। ततः समेत्य राजानं धृतराष्ट्रमरिंदमौ,भीमस्य च महात्मानौ तथा पादावगृह्नताम् । सबसे पहले उन शत्रुदमन वीरोंने राजा धृतराष्ट्रके पास जाकर अपने नाम बताते हुए उनके दोनों चरणोंका स्पर्श किया। उसके बाद उन महात्माओंने गान्धारी, कुन्ती, धर्मराज युधिष्ठिर और भीमसेनके पैर छूये
dadṛśāte striyaḥ sarvā gāndhārī-paricārikāḥ | tataḥ sametya rājānaṃ dhṛtarāṣṭram arindamau bhīmasya ca mahātmānau tathā pādāv agṛhṇatām ||
Vaiśampāyana said: The two heroes beheld all the women who attended upon Gāndhārī. Then, approaching King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, those two subduers of foes respectfully took hold of his feet; and likewise they paid reverence at the feet of the noble Bhīma as well. The scene underscores the post-war ethic of humility and proper conduct—honouring elders and guardians of the Kuru house even amid grief and the aftermath of conflict.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even after devastating conflict, dharma requires humility and proper respect toward elders and the custodians of the family line; reverential gestures like touching the feet symbolize restraint, reconciliation, and acknowledgement of moral order.
Two prominent figures (spoken of in the dual) meet the women attending Gāndhārī, then approach King Dhṛtarāṣṭra and respectfully touch his feet; they also pay the same reverence to Bhīma, marking a formal, etiquette-bound encounter in the aftermath of the war.