Shloka 66

Means to Liberation: Supremacy of Hari, Proper Salutations, and Purāṇic Authority

Devanagari script

वक्तुः स्याद्द्विगुणं पुण्यं व्याख्यातुश्च तथाधिकम् / अनन्तवेदैःसाम्यमाहुर्महान्तः भारान्महत्त्वाद्भारतस्यापि विप्राः

Transliteration

vaktuḥ syāddviguṇaṃ puṇyaṃ vyākhyātuśca tathādhikam / anantavedaiḥsāmyamāhurmahāntaḥ bhārānmahattvādbhāratasyāpi viprāḥ

Translation

The merit of the reciter is said to be twice that of one who merely hears, and the merit of the expositor who explains it is greater still. The great sages declare that (the Mahābhārata) is equal to the endless Vedas; and learned brāhmaṇas say it is called “Bhārata” because of the weighty greatness of its majesty.

Word by Word

• vaktuḥ: of the speaker
• vaktuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaktṛ (प्रातिपदिक; √vac धातु-नृ)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; ‘of the speaker’

• syāt: would be/is said to be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person, Singular

• dvi-guṇam: twofold
• dvi-guṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक) + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; ‘twofold’

• puṇyam: merit
• puṇyam: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; subject of syāt

• vyākhyātuḥ: of the expounder
• vyākhyātuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyākhyātṛ (प्रातिपदिक; √khyā/√kath in agent sense)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; ‘of the expounder/commentator’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• adhikam: more/greater
• adhikam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; predicate ‘greater/more’ (elliptic: puṇyam)

• ananta-vedaiḥ: with infinite Vedas
• ananta-vedaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ananta (प्रातिपदिक) + veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; ‘with infinite Vedas’ (standard of comparison)

• sāmyam: equality
• sāmyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; object/predicate ‘equality’

• āhuḥ: they say
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person, Plural

• mahāntaḥ: the great ones
• mahāntaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahant (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• bhārāt: from weight/burden
• bhārāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; cause/source

• mahattvāt: from greatness
• mahattvāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; cause/source

• bhāratasya: of the Bhārata
• bhāratasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhārata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; ‘of the Bhārata (Mahābhārata)’

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अपि) = also/even

• viprāḥ: O brāhmaṇas
• viprāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Plural; address

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Teaching/expounding śāstra (vyākhyā) yields higher merit than mere recitation; Itihāsa is treated as Veda-equivalent due to its comprehensive dharma-weight.

Vedantic Theme: Upabṛṁhaṇa of Veda through Itihāsa-Purāṇa; transmission (ācārya-kṛpā) and meaning-making are central.

Application: Support and engage qualified teachers; study with explanation; cultivate the role of ‘explainer’ through disciplined learning and ethical instruction.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: region

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (general): repeated elevation of śāstra-kathā, pravacana, and guru-upadeśa as high merit acts.

Characters & Entities

• Vedas
• Mahābhārata
• Vipras (Brāhmaṇas)
• Mahāntaḥ (Great Sages)

FAQs

What does this verse say about the merit (puṇya) of reciting versus explaining scripture?

It states that the reciter gains double merit, and the one who explains/expounds the text gains even greater merit than mere recitation.

Why is the Mahābhārata described as equal to the Vedas here?

The verse conveys a traditional view that the Mahābhārata encapsulates Vedic wisdom so completely that sages call it equivalent to innumerable Vedas in spiritual scope and authority.

What is a practical application of this teaching today?

Beyond personal reading, one can gain deeper benefit by learning with understanding and sharing clear explanations—through study circles, teaching, or guided discourse—so that dharma is grasped, not merely heard.