Mahabharata — Svargarohana Parva, Shloka 11
इतिहासमिमं श्रुत्वा यथावदनुपूर्वश: । संयतात्मा शुचिर्भूत्वा पारं गत्वा च भारते
itihāsam imaṁ śrutvā yathāvad anupūrvaśaḥ | saṁyatātmā śucir bhūtvā pāraṁ gatvā ca bhārate || mahādānāni deyāni ratnāni vividhāni ca |
毗舍摩波耶那说：“若能依次第如实听闻此史，摄心自持，内外清净，并将其听诵至圆满终竟，噢，婆罗多啊——便当行大施，施以种种珍宝。听毕《摩诃婆罗多》之后，听者应量力为战殁的诸位首要英雄举行施罗陀（śrāddha）祭仪，并以虔敬之心向婆罗门广行布施。”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Hearing the Mahābhārata is to be done with disciplined attention and inner/outer purity; upon completing it, one should translate that sacred encounter into ethical action—especially charity (mahādāna) and commemorative rites (śrāddha) for those who died—performed according to one’s means and with devotion.
Vaiśaṃpāyana concludes with prescriptive guidance: after listening to the epic in correct sequence and completing it, the listener is enjoined to remain self-controlled and pure, and then to give significant gifts (including precious items) and to perform śrāddha for the principal warriors who were slain.