Shloka 98
स्त्रियश्न पुरुषाश्वैव वैष्णवं पदमाप्तुयु: । स्त्रीभिश्व पुत्रकामाभि: श्रोतव्यं वैष्णवं यश:,स्त्रियाँ हों या पुरुष, सभी इसके श्रवणसे भगवान् विष्णुके धामको चले जाते हैं। पुत्रकी कामना रखनेवाली स्त्रियोंको भगवान् विष्णुके यशस्वरूप इस महाभारतका श्रवण अवश्य करना चाहिये
striyaś ca puruṣāś caiva vaiṣṇavaṁ padam āptuyuḥ | strībhiś ca putrakāmābhiḥ śrotavyaṁ vaiṣṇavaṁ yaśaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Whether women or men, all attain the supreme abode of Viṣṇu through this hearing. Therefore women who long for children should certainly listen to this Mahābhārata, the glory of Viṣṇu—an act of devotion believed to confer both spiritual ascent and desired blessings.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches the devotional power of śravaṇa (reverent listening): hearing the Mahābhārata—presented here as the glory of Viṣṇu—brings spiritual merit culminating in reaching Viṣṇu’s abode, and is also recommended for women seeking the blessing of children.
In the concluding section of the Mahābhārata, Vaiśampāyana delivers a phalaśruti-style statement, describing the fruits of hearing the epic: it benefits all listeners, and specifically encourages women with the desire for offspring to listen to this Vaiṣṇava praise.