Shloka 88
भारतश्रवणे राजन् पारणे च नृपोत्तम । सदा यत्नवता भाव्यं श्रेयस्तु परमिच्छता
bhārataśravaṇe rājan pāraṇe ca nṛpottama | sadā yatnavatā bhāvyaṃ śreyas tu param icchatā ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O king, O best of rulers—one who seeks the highest good should always act with sustained effort in listening to the Bhārata and in duly completing its recitation. For such disciplined engagement leads toward supreme welfare.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that one who seeks the supreme good (parama-śreyas) should be consistently diligent in sacred engagement—especially in listening to the Mahābhārata and in properly completing its recitation/observance (pāraṇa). Spiritual benefit is linked not only to hearing but also to disciplined follow-through.
Vaiśampāyana addresses the king and underscores the merit of hearing the Bhārata and completing its recitation properly. The statement functions as an exhortation about the value of attentive listening and conscientious completion as part of the text’s concluding ethical-religious framing.