Shloka 4
तस्मात् सर्वप्रयत्नेन भारतं भरतर्षभ । शृणुयात् सिद्धिमन्विच्छन्निह वामुत्र मानव:,भरतश्रेष्ठ] अत: इस लोक या परलोकमें सिद्धिकी इच्छा रखनेवाला मनुष्य पूर्ण प्रयत्नपूर्वक महाभारतको अवश्य सुने
tasmāt sarva-prayatnena bhārataṁ bharatarṣabha | śṛṇuyāt siddhim anvicchann iha vāmutra mānavaḥ ||
Therefore, O bull among the Bharatas, a person who seeks true attainment—whether in this world or in the next—should, with complete effort, listen to the Mahābhārata. It is presented as a disciplined hearing that supports right understanding and the pursuit of dharma, yielding benefit both for worldly life and for the beyond.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that attentive hearing of the Mahābhārata is itself a disciplined practice: one who desires siddhi (true attainment) should listen with full effort, gaining guidance for dharma and benefit both in this life and beyond.
Vaiśampāyana, addressing a Bharata-descendant (the listener), gives an exhortation about the value of the epic itself—urging dedicated listening to the Mahābhārata as a means to attain success and spiritual good in both worlds.