Let's talk about a Sanyasi and when his elder brother comes to meet him, there might be a dilemma whether to do pranam or not! Their Dharma will tell them to revere me (for the position of Sanyasi). But let’s say if his mother is alive and she comes to meet him then what? The highest position in this world is available to Brahmana, then to a Dandi Swami, then to Shankaracharya.
Now with their mother, it would be his responsibility to fall at her feet and greet her. It is prescribed “Danda” of a Sanyasi cannot bow to even the lower Devi-Devatas. “Danda” contains a lot of power of this universe and can bow only to prescribe Devi-Devatas as per scripture. But it is our responsibility that if the mother comes then even Shankaracharyas are bound to bow down. I am saying after listening to this order from Acharya.