Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 141
इमं स्तवं भगवतो विष्णोव्यसेन कीर्तितम् । पठेद् य इच्छेत् पुरुष: श्रेय: प्राप्तुं सुखानि च,जो पुरुष परम श्रेय और सुख पाना चाहता हो, वह भगवान् व्यासजीके कहे हुए इस विष्णुसहसख्रनामस्तोत्रका पाठ करे
imaṁ stavaṁ bhagavato viṣṇor vyāsena kīrtitam | paṭhed ya icchet puruṣaḥ śreyaḥ prāptuṁ sukhāni ca ||
ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਜੋ ਪੁਰਖ ਪਰਮ ਸ਼੍ਰੇਯ ਅਤੇ ਸੁਖ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੇ, ਉਹ ਵਿਆਸ ਜੀ ਦੁਆਰਾ ਕੀਰਤਿਤ ਭਗਵਾਨ ਵਿਸ਼ਨੂ ਦੇ ਇਸ ਸਤਵ ਦਾ ਪਾਠ ਕਰੇ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that recitation of a sacred hymn—here, the Vishnu-sahasranama as proclaimed by Vyasa—is a dharmic practice aimed at attaining both śreyas (the highest, lasting good) and sukha (well-being and happiness). It links ethical-spiritual aspiration with disciplined devotional speech (stotra-paṭhana).
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma addresses Yudhishthira and recommends the recitation of the Vishnu-sahasranama. This line functions as an exhortation: those seeking ultimate welfare and happiness should take up this hymn as a regular practice.