Shloka 59
श्रवणमहिमा इमं महायुद्धमखं महात्मनो- र्धनंजयस्याधिरथेश्व यः पठेत् । स सम्यगिष्टस्य मखस्य यत् फलं तदाप्रुयात् संश्रवणाच्च भारत
śravaṇamahimā imaṃ mahāyuddhamakhaṃ mahātmano dhanaṃjayasya ādhiratheś ca yaḥ paṭhet | sa samyagiṣṭasya makhasya yat phalaṃ tad āpnuyāt saṃśravaṇāc ca bhārata ||
वैशम्पायन उवाच । श्रवणमहिमानं इमं महायुद्धमखं महात्मनो र्धनञ्जयस्याधिरथेश्च यः पठेत् । स सम्यगिष्टस्य मखस्य यत्फलं तदाप्नुयात् संश्रवणाच्च भारत ॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches the phalaśruti principle: reverent recitation or attentive listening to the Mahābhārata’s account of the war—understood as a sacrificial act—confers merit comparable to a properly performed ritual sacrifice, emphasizing accessible spiritual benefit through śravaṇa and pāṭha.
At the close of the episode, Vaiśampāyana states the benefit of hearing/reciting the account of the great battle between Arjuna (Dhanañjaya) and Karna (Ādhiratha), framing the war as a ‘makha’ (sacrifice) and promising the listener/reciter the fruit of a duly completed yajña.