Mahabharata — Svargarohana Parva, Shloka 51
कटके कुण्डले चैव ब्रह्मुसूत्रं तथा परम्
kaṭake kuṇḍale caiva brahmasūtraṃ tathā param | kaḍe kuṇḍala yajñopavīta vicitra-vastraṃ viśeṣataḥ gandham arpitvā vācakasya devatā-samāṃ pūjāṃ kuryāt | evaṃ-kārī śrotā bhagavato viṣṇoḥ loke gacchati ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “Sa pag-aalay ng mga pulseras sa bisig at mga hikaw, at gayundin ng banal na sinulid (yajñopavīta), kasama ng mga palamuti, mariringal at makukulay na kasuotan, at lalo na ng mga pabango, dapat parangalan ang tagapagbigkas na gaya ng pagsamba sa isang diyos. Ang tagapakinig na gumagawa nito ay makaaabot sa daigdig ni Panginoong Viṣṇu.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that sacred listening is not passive: the listener should actively honor the reciter with respectful offerings and worship-like reverence. Such humility, gratitude, and support for dharma-teaching are presented as spiritually fruitful, leading to attainment of Viṣṇu’s abode.
In Svargārohaṇa Parva’s concluding instructions and reflections, Vaiśampāyana describes the proper way to receive the Mahābhārata’s recitation: by offering ornaments, sacred thread, garments, and fragrance, and by venerating the reciter like a deity. The promised result is heavenly/spiritual attainment in Viṣṇu’s realm.