Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.19.11

anye ca devarshi-brahmarshi-varyā

rājarshi-varyā arunādayaś ca

nānārsheya-pravarān sametān

abhyarcya rājā śirasā vavande

SYNONYMS

anye — many others; ca — also; devarshi — saintly demigods; brahmarshi — saintly brāhmanas; varyāh — topmost; rājarshi-varyāh — topmost saintly kings; aruna-ādayah — a special rank of rājarshis; ca — and; nānā — many others; ārsheya-pravarān — chief amongst the dynasties of the sages; sametān — assembled together; abhyarcya — by worshiping; rājā — the Emperor; śirasā — bowed his head to the ground; vavande — welcomed.

TRANSLATION

There were also many other saintly demigods, kings and special royal orders called arunādayas [a special rank of rājarshis] from different dynasties of sages. When they all assembled together to meet the Emperor [Parīkshit], he received them properly and bowed his head to the ground.

PURPORT

The system of bowing the head to the ground to show respect to superiors is an excellent etiquette which obliges the honored guest deep into the heart. Even the first-grade offender is excused simply by this process, and Mahārāja Parīkshit, although honored by all the rishis and kings, welcomed all the big men in that humble etiquette in order to be excused from any offenses. Generally at the last stage of one's life this humble method is adopted by every sensible man in order to be excused before departure. In this way Mahārāja Parīkshit implored everyone's good will for going back home, back to Godhead.

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His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness