Shloka 118
Atithi-prāpti and the Brāhmaṇa’s Deliberation on Triadic Dharma (अतिथिप्राप्तिः धर्मत्रयविचारश्च)
क्षेमेण गच्छेदध्वानमिदं यः पठते पथि । यो यं कामं कामयते स तमाप्रोति च ध्रुवम्
kṣemeṇa gacched adhvānam idaṃ yaḥ paṭhate pathi | yo yaṃ kāmaṃ kāmayate sa tam āpnoti ca dhruvam ||
क्षेमेण गच्छेदध्वानमिदं यः पठते पथि । यो यं कामं कामयते स तमाप्रोति च ध्रुवम् ॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that faithful recitation of a sacred passage functions as a source of protection and auspiciousness: it ensures safe completion of travel and promises the attainment of one’s desired goal, expressing the Mahābhārata’s common phalaśruti motif that right utterance and devotion yield tangible benefits.
Vaiśampāyana is delivering a concluding benefit-statement (phalaśruti) about the preceding teaching or hymn: he declares the practical fruits of reading/reciting it—safe travel and fulfillment of wishes—thereby encouraging listeners to preserve, recite, and transmit the passage.