Mahabharata — Svargarohana Parva, Shloka 94

Devanagari script

यत्र विष्णुकथा दिव्या: श्रुतयश्चन सनातना: । तत्‌ श्रोतव्यं मनुष्येण परं पदमिहेच्छता

Transliteration

yatra viṣṇukathā divyāḥ śrutayaś ca na sanātanāḥ | tat śrotavyaṃ manuṣyeṇa paraṃ padam ihecchatā |

Translation

凡有毗湿奴之神圣事迹与永恒的吠陀启示（圣闻）同在之处，彼《摩诃婆罗多》必当为欲于此世求至上境界之人所聆听。

Word by Word

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र
• Form: indeclinable (locative adverb)

• विष्णु-कथा: the story/discourse of Viṣṇu
• विष्णु-कथा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु-कथा
• Form: feminine, nominative, singular

• दिव्या: divine
• दिव्या: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य
• Form: feminine, nominative, singular

• श्रुतयः: the Śrutis (revealed texts)
• श्रुतयः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति
• Form: feminine, nominative, plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: indeclinable

• सनातनाः: eternal
• सनातनाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन
• Form: feminine, nominative, plural

• तत्: that (text/thing)
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• श्रोतव्यम्: is to be heard / should be listened to
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: gerundive (भाव्य), neuter, nominative, singular

• मनुष्येण: by a man/person
• मनुष्येण: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनुष्य
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• पदम्: state/abode/goal
• पदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद
• Form: neuter, accusative, singular

• इह: here (in this world)
• इह: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह
• Form: indeclinable

• इच्छता: by (one) desiring
• इच्छता: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष्
• Form: present active participle, masculine, instrumental, singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Śruti (Vedic revelation)
• Mahābhārata

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that the Mahābhārata is a spiritually authoritative text because it contains divine Viṣṇu-centered narratives and aligns with eternal Śruti; therefore, hearing it with faith is recommended as a means toward the highest human goal (parama pada), i.e., liberation and supreme well-being.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Svargārohaṇa context, Vaiśampāyana is concluding and praising the Mahābhārata’s salvific value, urging listeners that those who desire the supreme state should undertake śravaṇa (reverent listening) of this epic that integrates devotion and Vedic truth.