Shloka 11
इतिहासमिमं श्रुत्वा यथावदनुपूर्वश: । संयतात्मा शुचिर्भूत्वा पारं गत्वा च भारते
itihāsam imaṁ śrutvā yathāvad anupūrvaśaḥ | saṁyatātmā śucir bhūtvā pāraṁ gatvā ca bhārate || mahādānāni deyāni ratnāni vividhāni ca |
Vaiśaṃpāyana dit : «Après avoir entendu cette histoire dans l’ordre convenable et exactement telle qu’elle est, l’esprit maîtrisé et devenu pur au dedans comme au dehors, et l’ayant menée jusqu’à son achèvement, ô Bhārata—il faut alors offrir de grands dons, y compris des joyaux de diverses sortes. Après avoir achevé le Mahābhārata, l’auditeur doit, selon ses moyens, accomplir le śrāddha pour les principaux héros tombés, et, avec dévotion, faire de larges aumônes aux Brāhmaṇa.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Hearing the Mahābhārata is to be done with disciplined attention and inner/outer purity; upon completing it, one should translate that sacred encounter into ethical action—especially charity (mahādāna) and commemorative rites (śrāddha) for those who died—performed according to one’s means and with devotion.
Vaiśaṃpāyana concludes with prescriptive guidance: after listening to the epic in correct sequence and completing it, the listener is enjoined to remain self-controlled and pure, and then to give significant gifts (including precious items) and to perform śrāddha for the principal warriors who were slain.