Shloka 2
देयं समाप्ते भगवन् किं च पर्वणि पर्वणि । वाचक: कीदृशश्षात्र एष्टव्यस्तद् वदस्व मे
janamejaya uvāca | deyaṃ samāpte bhagavan kiṃ ca parvaṇi parvaṇi | vācakaḥ kīdṛśaś cātra eṣṭavyas tad vadasva me ||
ജനമേജയൻ ചോദിച്ചു—ഭഗവൻ, സമാപ്തിയിൽ എന്ത് ദാനം നൽകണം? ഓരോ പർവ്വത്തിന്റെ അവസാനം എന്ത് നൽകണം? കൂടാതെ ഈ ശാസ്ത്രത്തിന്റെ വാചകൻ എങ്ങനെയുള്ളവനായി തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കണം—അത് എനിക്കു പറയുക.
जनमेजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
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.
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.