Shloka 59
श्रवणमहिमा इमं महायुद्धमखं महात्मनो- र्धनंजयस्याधिरथेश्व यः पठेत् । स सम्यगिष्टस्य मखस्य यत् फलं तदाप्रुयात् संश्रवणाच्च भारत,भारत! जो मनुष्य महात्मा अर्जुन और कर्णके इस महायुद्धरूपी यज्ञका पाठ अथवा श्रवण करेगा, वह विधिपूर्वक किये हुए यज्ञानुष्ठानका फल प्राप्त कर लेगा
śravaṇamahimā imaṃ mahāyuddhamakhaṃ mahātmano dhanaṃjayasya ādhiratheś ca yaḥ paṭhet | sa samyagiṣṭasya makhasya yat phalaṃ tad āpnuyāt saṃśravaṇāc ca bhārata ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: Quien recite—o incluso solo escuche—esta gran guerra, concebida como un sacrificio (makha), acerca del noble Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) y de Ādhiratha (Karna), alcanza el mismo fruto que otorga un sacrificio realizado conforme al rito. Así, oh Bhārata, el mérito del ritual disciplinado se vuelve accesible también mediante la escucha reverente.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches the phalaśruti principle: reverent recitation or attentive listening to the Mahābhārata’s account of the war—understood as a sacrificial act—confers merit comparable to a properly performed ritual sacrifice, emphasizing accessible spiritual benefit through śravaṇa and pāṭha.
At the close of the episode, Vaiśampāyana states the benefit of hearing/reciting the account of the great battle between Arjuna (Dhanañjaya) and Karna (Ādhiratha), framing the war as a ‘makha’ (sacrifice) and promising the listener/reciter the fruit of a duly completed yajña.