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 |
三阇耶说道：“请依长幼之序、依卓越之别，代我致以敬礼与款待。大王啊！一旦与您离别，我们又怎能获得安宁与幸福？而君王啊，当您登临天界，见到那里的诸位大车战士时，请将我的敬意逐一转达——循礼而行，按长者与少者的次第。”
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.