Shloka 423
अध्याय ९ — दुर्योधनस्य अन्त्यावस्था, विलापः, तथा सौप्तिक-प्रतिवृत्तम्
Duryodhana’s Final Condition, Lamentation, and the Night’s Report
यथाज्येष्ठं यथाश्रेष्ठं पूजयेवचनान्मम । “महाराज! आपसे बिछुड़ जानेपर हमें शान्ति और सुख कैसे मिल सकते हैं? राजन! स्वर्गमें जाकर सब महारथियोंसे मिलनेपर आप मेरी ओरसे बड़े-छोटेके क्रमसे उन सबका आदर-सत्कार करें
yathājyeṣṭhaṃ yathāśreṣṭhaṃ pūjaye vacanān mama |
यथाज्येष्ठं यथाश्रेष्ठं पूजयेवचनान्मम। महाराज! त्वया वियुक्तानां नः कथं शान्तिः सुखं च स्यात्? राजन्, स्वर्गं गत्वा सर्वान् महारथान् समागम्य मम वचनात् तेषां सर्वेषां ज्येष्ठकनिष्ठक्रमेण यथोचितं सत्कारं कुरु।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharmic social order: respect should be rendered with discernment—honoring people according to seniority (jyeṣṭha) and merit/excellence (śreṣṭha). Even amid grief, ethical conduct is expressed through proper reverence and courteous remembrance of others.
Sañjaya addresses the king, expressing sorrow at separation and asking him to convey Sañjaya’s respects in heaven to the fallen great warriors, honoring them in due order—elders and juniors—when the king meets them there.