Mahabharata — Mahaprasthanika Parva, Shloka 10
अध्याय १: महाप्रस्थानारम्भः
The Commencement of the Great Departure
इत्युक्त्वा धर्मराज: स वासुदेवस्य धीमत: । मातुलस्य च वृद्धस्य रामादीनां तथैव च
ity uktvā dharmarājaḥ sa vāsudevasya dhīmataḥ | mātulasya ca vṛddhasya rāmādīnāṃ tathaiva ca
毗湿摩波耶那说：说罢这些话，达摩罗阇（坚战）便向睿智的婆苏提婆致意，也向年迈的舅父，以及罗摩等诸长者——以应有的敬重转向长辈与可敬的亲族，准备依达摩而行。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dhārmic conduct through deference to wisdom and seniority: before undertaking a decisive course, Dharmarāja turns to revered figures—Vāsudeva and elders—signaling that ethical action is grounded in respectful consultation and honoring those worthy of regard.
After making a preceding statement, Yudhiṣṭhira (Dharmarāja) now directs his attention to Vāsudeva, his aged maternal uncle, and to Rāma and others—indicating he is addressing or taking leave of key elders and kin at the outset of the Mahāprasthāna (the great departure).