Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.71.28
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
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brāhmaṇebhyaḥ
—
to the brāhmaṇas
Dative plural — Kṛṣṇa bows to brāhmaṇas. The verse encodes the brahmaṇya-deva principle: the Lord's first salute, in any room, is to the brāhmaṇas.
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vṛddhebhyaḥ
—
to the elders
Vṛddha — those grown in years and wisdom. Kṛṣṇa models guru-jana-pūjā for every kṣatriya watching.
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yathā - arhataḥ
—
according to deservingness
Each is honoured exactly as he deserves — no flattery, no omission. Dharmic etiquette is precise, and the Lord's precision is part of His līlā.
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī mentions that since Arjuna was considered Lord Kṛṣṇa’s social equal, when Arjuna tried to bow down to Him, Lord Kṛṣṇa held Arjuna by his arms so that he could only embrace Him. The twins, however, being junior cousins, bowed down and grasped Lord Kṛṣṇa’s feet.
First their embraces with reverence, with a general description of everyone’s bewilderment in joy, were described. They observed proper behavior from their respective positions. Now the last three Pāṇḍavas’ more intense emotions are described. Arjuna embraced him again. This shows his great friendship with him. Though not stated it should be understood that before Arjuna offered respects as mentioned in this verse, Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīma offered respects to him first, just as they embraced him first. Māninaḥ means respectable persons. He offered respects in a suitable manner.
First their embraces endowed with reverence, with a general description of everyone’s bewilderment in joy, were described. They observed proper behavior from their respective positions. Now the last three Pāṇḍavas’ more intense emotions are described. Arjuna embraced him again. This shows his great friendship with him. Though not stated, it should be understood that before Arjuna offered respects as mentioned in this verse, Yudhiṣṭhira and Bhīma offered respects to him first, just as they embraced him first. Or they did not offer respects since it would restrict their bliss. More than previously they experienced bliss. As with place, so according to time, there is special bliss in special circumstances of meeting the Lord. The conclusion is described in Bhāgavatāmṛta. Māninaḥ means respectable persons. He offered respects in a suitable manner.
Kṛṣṇa, after being embraced by His cousins, bowing down to brāhmaṇas and elders, is like a tall tree that bears fruit and yet bends low when honoured guests arrive — His greatness expresses itself in the depth of His bow.
Throughout the Bhāgavata, Kṛṣṇa worships brāhmaṇas — Sudāmā in 10.80, the brāhmaṇas of Mithilā, the priests at every yajña. He teaches go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya as a personal practice, not only as instruction.
Gauḍīyas point to Caitanya-caritāmṛta where Mahāprabhu repeats this pattern — even as the Lord, He honours the smallest Vaiṣṇava and brāhmaṇa first. The dharma of bowing is Kṛṣṇa's own habit before it is anyone's instruction.
My note
Source: vedabase.io