Shloka 23
कुरुक्षेत्रे सेनानिवेशवृत्तान्तः — Dhṛtarāṣṭra Questions Saṃjaya on the Deployed Armies
वासुदेवपुरोगास्तं सर्व एवाभ्यवादयन् | विराटद्रुपदौ वृद्धावभिवाद्य हलायुध:
vāsudevapurogāstaṃ sarva evābhyavadayan | virāṭadrupadau vṛddhāvabhivādya halāyudhaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Dengan Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa) di hadapan, mereka semua menyampaikan salam hormat kepadanya. Kemudian Halāyudha (Balarāma), setelah memberi penghormatan kepada raja-raja tua Virāṭa dan Drupada, meneruskan langkahnya menurut tertib yang wajar. Adegan ini menegaskan etika memuliakan para tua dan sekutu, walau tekanan konflik yang bakal meletus kian menghimpit.
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.