Shloka 98
स्त्रियश्न पुरुषाश्वैव वैष्णवं पदमाप्तुयु: । स्त्रीभिश्व पुत्रकामाभि: श्रोतव्यं वैष्णवं यश:
striyaś ca puruṣāś caiva vaiṣṇavaṁ padam āptuyuḥ | strībhiś ca putrakāmābhiḥ śrotavyaṁ vaiṣṇavaṁ yaśaḥ ||
عورتیں ہوں یا مرد—سب اس کی سماعت سے بھگوان وِشنو کے پرم دھام کو پہنچتے ہیں۔ اس لیے جن عورتوں کو اولاد کی آرزو ہو، انہیں وِشنو کے یش کے روپ اس مہابھارت کو ضرور سننا چاہیے۔
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.