Shloka 173
ब्रह्माणमिव देवेशमिन्द्रोपेन्द्री मुदान्वितौ । राजन! इन दोनोंका मस्तक सूँघकर उन्होंने कुशल-समाचार पूछा और उन दोनोंने भी अपने गुरुजन बलरामजीका विधिपूर्वक पूजन किया। ठीक उसी तरह, जैसे इन्द्र और उपेन्द्रने प्रसन्नतापूर्वक देवेश्वर ब्रह्माजीकी पूजा की थी
brahmāṇam iva deveśam indropendrī mudānvitau | rājan! etayoḥ mastakaṁ sūṅghitvā tena kuśala-samācāraḥ pṛṣṭaḥ, tayor api gurujanaṁ balarāmaṁ vidhivat pūjitaḥ | tathaiva yathā indra-upendrābhyāṁ prīta-manobhyāṁ deveśvaraḥ brahmā pūjitaḥ ||
Sanjaya said: O King, he affectionately smelled the heads of those two and asked after their welfare; and they, in turn, duly honored their revered elder and teacher, Balarama. It was like Indra and Upendra, filled with joy, paying worship to Brahma, the lord of the gods. The passage highlights the ethical decorum of greeting, concern for well-being, and proper reverence toward elders and preceptors even amid the tensions of war.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores dharmic conduct: affectionate inquiry into another’s welfare and the obligation to honor elders and teachers with proper ritual respect. Even in a war setting, ethical decorum and reverence remain binding.
Sanjaya describes a respectful meeting: a senior figure affectionately smells the heads of two persons and asks their well-being; those two then duly worship and honor their elder/preceptor Balarama. The scene is likened to Indra and Upendra joyfully worshiping Brahma.