Shloka 59
Svargārohaṇa-parva Adhyāya 5 — Karmaphala-Nirdeśa and Phalāśruti (कर्मफलनिर्देशः फलश्रुतिश्च)
भारताध्ययनात् पुण्यादपि पादमधीयत: । श्रद्धया परया भक्त्या श्राव्यते चापि येन तु,जो अत्यन्त श्रद्धा और भक्तिके साथ महाभारतके एक अंशको भी सुनता या दूसरोंको सुनाता है उसे सम्पूर्ण महाभारतके अध्ययनका पुण्य प्राप्त होता है और उसीके प्रभावसे उसे उत्तम सिद्धि मिल जाती है
bhāratādhyayanāt puṇyād api pādam adhīyataḥ | śraddhayā parayā bhaktyā śrāvyate cāpi yena tu ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Even if one learns only a single quarter-verse, the merit gained surpasses that of studying the entire Bhārata. Whoever, with supreme faith and devotion, listens to it—or causes it to be recited for others—obtains the full fruit of studying the Mahābhārata, and by that very power attains the highest spiritual accomplishment.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that sincere śraddhā (faith) and bhakti (devotion) in hearing or reciting even a small portion of the Mahābhārata yields the full spiritual merit of studying the whole epic, emphasizing inner disposition over sheer quantity of learning.
In the closing context of the Svargārohaṇa Parva, Vaiśampāyana highlights the phala-śruti (statement of benefits) of the Mahābhārata, praising the power of listening and recitation as a means to attain auspicious spiritual accomplishment.