Shloka 51
कटके कुण्डले चैव ब्रह्मुसूत्रं तथा परम्,कड़े, कुण्डल, यज्ञोपवीत, विचित्र वस्त्र और विशेषत: गनन््ध अर्पित करके वाचककी देवताके समान पूजा करनी चाहिये। ऐसा करनेवाला श्रोता भगवान् विष्णुके लोकमें जाता है
kaṭake kuṇḍale caiva brahmasūtraṃ tathā param | kaḍe kuṇḍala yajñopavīta vicitra-vastraṃ viśeṣataḥ gandham arpitvā vācakasya devatā-samāṃ pūjāṃ kuryāt | evaṃ-kārī śrotā bhagavato viṣṇoḥ loke gacchati ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “Offering armlets and earrings, and also the sacred thread, along with ornaments, the yajñopavīta, fine and variegated garments, and especially fragrant substances, one should honor the reciter as one would worship a deity. A listener who acts in this way attains the world of Lord Viṣṇu.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that sacred listening is not passive: the listener should actively honor the reciter with respectful offerings and worship-like reverence. Such humility, gratitude, and support for dharma-teaching are presented as spiritually fruitful, leading to attainment of Viṣṇu’s abode.
In Svargārohaṇa Parva’s concluding instructions and reflections, Vaiśampāyana describes the proper way to receive the Mahābhārata’s recitation: by offering ornaments, sacred thread, garments, and fragrance, and by venerating the reciter like a deity. The promised result is heavenly/spiritual attainment in Viṣṇu’s realm.