Mahabharata — Svargarohana Parva, Shloka 98
स्त्रियश्न पुरुषाश्वैव वैष्णवं पदमाप्तुयु: । स्त्रीभिश्व पुत्रकामाभि: श्रोतव्यं वैष्णवं यश:
striyaś ca puruṣāś caiva vaiṣṇavaṁ padam āptuyuḥ | strībhiś ca putrakāmābhiḥ śrotavyaṁ vaiṣṇavaṁ yaśaḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: Babae man o lalaki, lahat ay nakararating sa kataas-taasang tahanan ni Viṣṇu sa pamamagitan ng pakikinig na ito. Kaya ang mga babaeng naghahangad ng anak ay tiyak na dapat makinig sa Mahābhārata—ang kaluwalhatian ni Viṣṇu.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches the devotional power of śravaṇa (reverent listening): hearing the Mahābhārata—presented here as the glory of Viṣṇu—brings spiritual merit culminating in reaching Viṣṇu’s abode, and is also recommended for women seeking the blessing of children.
In the concluding section of the Mahābhārata, Vaiśampāyana delivers a phalaśruti-style statement, describing the fruits of hearing the epic: it benefits all listeners, and specifically encourages women with the desire for offspring to listen to this Vaiṣṇava praise.