Shloka 2

Devanagari script

देयं समाप्ते भगवन्‌ किं च पर्वणि पर्वणि । वाचक: कीदृशश्षात्र एष्टव्यस्तद्‌ वदस्व मे,जनमेजयने पूछा--भगवन्‌! विद्वानोंको किस विधिसे महाभारतका श्रवण करना चाहिये? इसके सुननेसे क्या फल होता है? इसकी पारणाके समय किन-किन देवताओंका पूजन करना चाहिये? भगवन! प्रत्येक पर्वकी समाप्तिपर क्‍या दान देना चाहिये? और इस कथाका वाचक कैसा होना चाहिये? यह सब मुझे बतानेकी कृपा कीजिये

Transliteration

janamejaya uvāca | deyaṃ samāpte bhagavan kiṃ ca parvaṇi parvaṇi | vācakaḥ kīdṛśaś cātra eṣṭavyas tad vadasva me ||

Translation

ジャナメージャヤは言った。「尊き御方よ、（読誦の）成就の時には何を布施すべきでしょうか。さらに各パルヴァンの終わりごとには何を施すべきでしょうか。また、この聖なる物語の語り手（ヴァーチャカ）は、いかなる人物を選ぶべきでしょうか。どうかお教えください。」

Word by Word

देयम्to be given / what should be given

समाप्तेwhen (it is) finished / at the completion

भगवन्O Blessed one / O Lord

किम्what?

चand

पर्वणिin/at a parvan (section)

पर्वणिin each parvan (repetition for distributive sense)

वाचकःthe reciter / narrator

कीदृशःof what kind?

शास्त्रःscripture / treatise (intended: 'learned in śāstra')

एष्टव्यःto be desired / to be chosen

तत्that

वदस्वtell (me)

मेto me / for me

Speaker

जनमेजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Janamejaya

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds dharma in the form of disciplined listening/recitation: sacred study is not merely textual but is completed through proper giving (dāna) and by choosing a qualified, trustworthy narrator. It implies that transmission of the Mahābhārata should be ethically grounded—supported by generosity and guided by a competent speaker.

What is happening in the narrative?

King Janamejaya, continuing his inquiry to the sage, asks practical details about conducting a Mahābhārata recitation: what donations should be offered at the end of the whole recital and at the end of each parvan, and what qualities the appointed reciter should possess.