Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 12
भूमिदान-प्रसङ्गः । काश्यपी-पृथिवी तथा उतथ्य-वरुण-संवादः
Land-gift episode; Pṛthivī Kāśyapī; Utathya–Varuṇa dispute
भुज्जते पितरो देवा हव्यं कव्यमथाक्षयम् । उसके ऊपर कभी पापका प्रभाव नहीं पड़ेगा, वह कभी पापसे लिप्त नहीं होगा। जो इस प्रसंगको पढ़ेगा, दूसरोंको सुनायेगा अथवा स्वयं सुनेगा, उसे भी उन धर्मोंके आचरणका फल मिलेगा। उसका दिया हुआ हव्य-कव्य अक्षय होगा तथा उसे देवता और पितर बड़ी प्रसन्नतासे ग्रहण करेंगे ।।
bhuñjate pitaro devā havyaṃ kavyam athākṣayam | śrāvayaṃś cāpi viprendrān parvasu prayato naraḥ ||
Skanda said: “The gods and the forefathers partake of the offerings—havya and kavya—in an imperishable manner. Whoever, on sacred festival days, disciplined and pure-minded, causes eminent Brahmins to hear these subtle truths of dharma becomes ever worthy of honor from gods, seers, and ancestors. Prosperity attends him, and his devotion to righteous conduct remains steady.”
स्कन्द उवाच
Educational Q&A
That transmitting and facilitating the hearing of dharma—especially on sacred occasions and with personal purity—creates enduring religious merit: offerings become ‘akṣaya’ (unfailing), and one gains the favor and honor of gods, seers, and ancestors, along with steady commitment to righteous conduct.
Skanda is instructing about the spiritual efficacy of ritual offerings (havya to the gods and kavya to the ancestors) and the merit gained by arranging or performing the recitation/hearing of dharma teachings before eminent Brahmins on festival (parva) days.