Vyāsa’s Boon-Offer and Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Remorse in the Forest Assembly (आश्रमवासिक पर्व, अध्याय ३६)
संजयस्तं तथा दृष्टवा प्रदक्षिणमथाकरोत्
sañjayas taṃ tathā dṛṣṭvā pradakṣiṇam athākarot
اُسے اُس حالت میں دیکھ کر سنجے نے عقیدت کے ساتھ اُس کی پرَدَکشِنا کی—روحانی و اخلاقی اقتدار کو تسلیم کرنے والی تعظیمی رسم ادا کی۔
नारद उवाच
The verse highlights dharmic etiquette: when encountering a revered person—especially one established in austerity or seniority—one responds with humility and honor. Pradakṣiṇā symbolizes placing oneself in a respectful orbit around virtue and authority rather than asserting ego.
Nārada narrates that Sañjaya, upon seeing the revered figure ‘as he was’ (tathā), performs pradakṣiṇā—circumambulation—as a formal act of respect, marking recognition of the person’s spiritual stature and the solemnity of the forest-āśrama setting.