Shloka 52
वस्त्र चैव विचित्र च गन्धं चैव विशेषत: । देववत् पूजयेत् तं तु विष्णुलोकमवाप्नुयात्
vastraṃ caiva vicitraṃ ca gandhaṃ caiva viśeṣataḥ | devavat pūjayet taṃ tu viṣṇulokam avāpnuyāt ||
Qu’il offre des vêtements fins et chamarrés, et surtout des substances parfumées, puis qu’il vénère ce récitant comme on vénère une divinité. L’auditeur qui agit ainsi atteint le monde de Viṣṇu—montrant que la révérence envers l’enseignement sacré et envers celui qui le transmet est en elle-même un dharma méritoire menant à une destinée heureuse.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that honoring the transmitter of sacred discourse—by offerings such as garments and fragrance and by treating him with deity-like reverence—is a form of dharma that yields spiritual merit and an exalted posthumous destination (Viṣṇu’s realm).
Vaiśampāyana states a prescriptive rule about how a listener should honor the reciter of the Mahābhārata (or sacred narration): by offering fine clothing and fragrant substances and worshipping him respectfully, with the promised fruit of attaining Viṣṇuloka.