Chapter 6

Janamejaya said, “O holy one, according to what rites should the learnedlisten to the Bharata? What are the fruits (acquirable by hearing it)?What deities are to be worshipped during the several paranas? What shouldbe the gifts that one should make, O holy one, at every parva or sacredday (during the continuance of the recitation)? What should be thequalification of the reciter to be engaged? Tell me all this!

Vaishampayana said, “Hear, O king, what the procedure is, and what thefruits, O Bharata, are that will spring from ones listening (to arecitation of the Bharata). Even this, O king of kings, is what thouaskest me. The deities of Heaven, O ruler of Earth, came to this worldfor sport. Having achieved their task, they ascended once more to Heaven.Listen to what I shall tell thee in brief. In the Mahabharata is to befound the births of Rishis and deities on the Earth. In this treatise,called Bharata, O foremost one of Bharatas race, are to be seen in oneplace the eternal Rudras, the Saddhyas, and the Viswedevas; the Adityas,the two deities named the Ashvinis, the regents of the World, the greatRishis, the Guhyakas, the Gandharvas, the Nagas, the Vidyadharas, theSiddhas, the diverse deities, the Self-born visible in a body, with manyascetics; the Hills and Mountains, Oceans and Seas and Rivers, thediverse tribes of Apsaras; the Planets, the Years, the Half-years, andthe Seasons; and the whole universe of mobile and immobile entities, withall the gods and Asuras.

“Hearing their celebrity, and in consequence of a recitation of theirnames and achievements, a man that has committed even terrible sins, willbe cleansed. Having, with a concentrated soul and cleansed body, heardthis history duly, from the beginning, and having reached its end, oneshould make Sraddha offerings, O Bharata, unto those (foremost of personswho have been mentioned in it). Unto the Brahmanas also, O chief ofBharatas race, should, with due devotion and according to ones power, bemade large gifts and diverse kinds of gems, and kine, and vessels ofwhite brass for milking kine, and maidens decked with every ornament, andpossessed of every accomplishment suited to enjoyment, as also diversekinds of conveyances, beautiful mansions, plots of land, and cloths.Animals also should be given, such as horses and elephants in rage, andbeds, and covered conveyances borne on the shoulders of men, andwell-decked cars. Whatever objects occur in the house, of the foremostkind, whatever wealth of great value occurs in it, should be given awayunto Brahmanas. Indeed, one should give away ones own self, wives, andchildren.

“One desirous of hearing the Bharata, should hear it without a doubtingheart, with cheerfulness and joy; and as, he proceeds listening to itsrecitation, he should according to the extent of his power, make giftswith great devotion.

“Hear how a person that is devoted to truth and sincerity, that isself-restrained, pure (in mind), and observant of those acts which leadto purity of body, that is endued with faith, and that has subjugatedwrath, attains to success (in the matter of a recitation of the Bharata).He should appoint as reciter one that is pure (of body), that is enduedwith good and pious conduct, that should be robed in white, that shouldhave a complete mastery over his passions, that is cleansed of alloffences, that is conversant with every branch of learning, that isendued with faith, that is free from malice, that is possessed ofhandsome features, that is blessed, self-restrained, truthful, and withpassions under control, and that is beloved of all for the gifts he makesand the honours of which he is the possessor.

“The reciter, seated at his ease, free from all bodily complaints, andwith rapt attention, should recite the text without too much slowness,without a labouring voice, without being fast or quick, quietly, withsufficient energy, without confusing the letters and words together, in asweet intonation and with such accent and emphasis as would indicate thesense giving full utterance to the three and sixty letters of thealphabet from the eight places of their formation. Bowing unto Narayana,and to Nara, that foremost of men, as also to the goddess Sarasvati,should the word Jaya be uttered.

“Listening to the Bharata, O king, when recited, O thou of Bharatas race,by a reader of this kind, the listener, observant of vows all the whileand cleansed by purificatory rites, acquires valuable fruits. When thefirst Parana is reached, the hearer should gratify Brahmanas withpresents of all desirable objects. By doing this, one obtains the fruitsof the Agnishtoma sacrifice. He acquires a large (celestial) car teemingwith diverse orders of Apsaras (that wait upon him). With a glad heart,and with the deities in his company, he proceeds to Heaven, his heartrapt (in felicity).

“When the second Parana is reached, the hearer acquires the fruits of theAtiratra vow. Indeed, he ascends a celestial car made entirely ofprecious gems. Wearing celestial garlands and robes, and decked withcelestial unguents and always shedding a celestial fragrance around, hereceives high honours in Heaven.

“When the third Parana is reached, he acquires the fruits of theDwadasaha vow. Indeed be resides in Heaven for myriads of years, like agod.

“At the fourth Parana he acquires the fruits of the Vajapeya sacrifice.

“At the fifth, twice those fruits are his. Ascending a celestial car thatresembles the rising sun or a blazing fire, and with the deities for hiscompanions, he goes to Heaven and sports in felicity for myriads of yearsin the abode of Indra.

“At the sixth Parana, twice, and at the seventh, thrice those fruitsbecome his. Ascending a celestial car that resembles the summit of theKailasa mountains (in beauty), that is equipt with an altar made ofstones of lapis lazuli and other precious gems, that is surrounded bybeautiful objects of diverse kinds, that is decked with gems and corals,that moves at the will of the rider, and that teems with waiting Apsaras,he roves through all the regions of felicity, like a second deity of theSun.

“At the eight Parana, he acquires the fruits of the Rajasuya sacrifice.He ascends a car as beautiful as the rising moon, and unto which areyoked steeds white as the rays of the moon and endued with the speed ofthought. He is served by women of the foremost beauty and whose faces aremore charming than the moon. He hears the music of the garlands thatencircle their waists and the Nupuras encircling their ankles. Sleepingwith his head resting on the laps of women of transcendent beauty, heawakes greatly refreshed.

“At the ninth Parana, he acquires, O Bharata, the fruits of that foremostof sacrifices, viz., the Horse-sacrifice. Ascending on a car equipt witha chamber consisting of a top supported by columns of gold, furnishedwith a seat made of stones of lapis lazuli, with windows on all sidesmade of pure gold, and teeming with waiting Apsaras and Gandharvas andother celestials, he blazes forth in splendour. Wearing celestialgarlands and robes, and decked with celestial unguents, he sports inbliss, with deities for his companions, in Heaven, like a second deityhimself.

“Reaching the tenth Parana and gratifying Brahmanas, he acquires a carwhich tinkles with innumerable bells, which is decked with flags andbanners, which is equipt with a seat made of precious gems, which hasmany arches made of lapis lazuli, which has a net-work of gold all round,which has turrets made of corals, which is adorned with Gandharvas andApsaras well-skilled in singing, and which is fit for the residence ofthe Righteous. Crowned with a diadem of the complexion of fire, deckedwith ornaments of gold, his person smeared with celestial sandalpaste,garnished with celestial wreaths, he roves through all celestial regions,enjoying all celestial objects of enjoyment, and endued with greatsplendour, through the grace of the deities.

“Thus accoutred, he receives high honours in Heaven for many long years.With Gandharvas in his company, for full 21,000 years, he sports in blisswith Indra himself in abode of Indra. He roves at pleasure every daythrough the diverse regions of the gods, riding on celestial cars andconveyances, and surrounded by celestial damsels of transcendent beauty.He is able to go to the abode of the solar deity, of the lunar deity, andof Siva, O king. Indeed, he succeeds in living in the same region withVishnu himself. It is even so, O monarch. There is no doubt in this. Aperson listening with faith, becomes even so. My preceptor has said this.Unto the reciter should be given all such objects as he may wish.Elephants and steeds and cars and conveyances, especially animals and thevehicles they draw, a bracelet of gold, a pair of ear-rings, sacredthreads, beautiful robes, and perfumes in especial (should be given). Byworshipping him as a deity one attains to the regions of Vishnu.

“After this I shall declare what should be given away, as each parva isreached of the Bharata in course of its recitation, unto brahmanas, afterascertaining their birth, country, truthfulness, and greatness, O chiefof Bharatas race, as also their inclination for piety, and untokshatriyas too, O king, after ascertainment of similar particulars.Causing the Brahmanas to utter benedictions, the business of recitationshould be begun. When a parva is finished, the brahmanas should beworshipped to the best of ones power. At first, the reciter, clad in goodrobes and smeared with perfumed paste, should, O king, be duly fed withhoney and frumenty of the best kind.

“When the Astika-parva is being recited, brahmanas should be entertainedwith fruits and roots, and frumenty, and honey and clarified butter, andrice boiled with raw sugar.

“When the Sabha-parva is being recited, brahmanas should be fed withhabisya along with apupas and pupas and modakas, O king.

“When the Aranyaka-parva is being recited, superior brahmanas should befed with fruits and roots.

“When the Arani-parva is reached, water-pots full of water should begiven away. Many superior kinds of delicious food, also rice and fruitsand roots, and food possessed of every agreeable attribute, should bepresented unto the brahmanas.

“During the recitation of the Virata-parva diverse kinds of robes shouldbe given away; and during that of the Udyoga-parva, O chief of theBharatas, the twice-born ones, after being decked with perfumes andgarlands, should be entertained with food possessed of every agreeablequality.

“During the recitation of the Bhishma-parva, O king of kings, aftergiving them excellent cars and conveyances, food should be given that ispure and well-cooked and possessed of every desirable attribute.

“During the Drona-parva food of very superior kind should be given tolearned brahmanas, as also beds, O monarch, and bows and good swords.

“During the recitation of the Karna-parva, food of the foremost kind,besides being pure and well-cooked, should be presented unto thebrahmanas by the house-holder with rapt mind.

“During the recitation of the Shalya-parva, O king of kings, food withconfectionery and rice boiled with raw sugar, as also cakes of wheat andsoothing and nutritive viands and drinks should be presented.

“During the recitation of the Gada-parva, brahmanas should be entertainedwith food mixed with mudga.

“During the recitation of the Stri-parva, foremost of brahmanas should beentertained with gems and precious stones; and during the recitation ofthe Aishika-parva, rice boiled in ghee should first be given, and thenfood pure and well-cooked, and possessed of every desirable quality,should be presented.

“During the recitation of the Shanti-parva, the brahmanas should be fedwith havisya.

“When the Asvamedhika-parva is reached, food possessed of every agreeablequality should be given; and when the Asramvasika is reached, brahmanasshould be entertained with havisya.

“When the Mausala is reached, scents and garlands possessed of agreeablequalities should be given away.

“During the Mahaprasthanika, similar presents should be made, possessedof every quality of an agreeable kind.

“When the Svarga-parva is reached, the brahmanas should be fed withhavisya.

“Upon the conclusion of the Harivansa, a 1,000 brahmanas should be fed.Unto each of them should be presented a cow accompanied with a piece ofgold. Half of this should be presented to each poor man, O king.

“Upon the conclusion of all the Parvas, the house-holder of wisdom shouldgive unto the reciter a copy of the Mahabharata with a piece of gold.When the Harivansa Parva is being recited, Brahmanas should be fed withfrumenty at each successive Parana, O king. Having finished all theParvas, one versed in the scriptures, robing himself in white, wearinggarlands, decked with ornaments, and properly purified, should place acopy of the Mahabharata on an auspicious spot and cover it with a pieceof silken cloth and worship it, according to due rites, with scents andgarlands, offering each at a time. Indeed, O king, the several volumes ofthis treatise should be worshipped by one with devotion and concentratedmind. Offerings should be made unto them of diverse kinds of food andgarlands and drinks and diverse auspicious articles of enjoyment. Goldand other precious metals should be given as Dakshina. The names shouldthen be taken of all the deities as also of Nara and Narayana. Then,adorning the persons of some foremost of Brahmanas with scents andgarlands, they should be gratified with diverse kinds of gifts ofenjoyable and very superior or costly articles. By doing this, oneattains to the merits of the Atiratra sacrifice. Indeed, at eachsuccessive Parva, he acquires the merits that attach to the performanceof a sacrifice. The reciter, O chief of the Bharatas, should be possessedof learning and endued with a good voice and a clear utterance respectingboth letters and words. Even such a man should, O chief of the Bharatas,recite the Bharata. After entertaining a number of foremost Brahmanas,presents should be made unto them according to the ordinances. Thereciter also, O chief of the Bharatas, should be decked with ornamentsand fed sumptuously. The reciter being gratified, the house-holderattains to an excellent and auspicious contentment. If the Brahmanas aregratified, all the deities are gratified. After this, O chief of theBharatas, Brahmanas should be duly entertained with diverse kinds ofenjoyable articles and superior things.

“I have thus indicated the ordinances, O foremost of men, (about themanner of reciting these scriptures) in answer to thy enquiries. Thoushouldst observe them with faith. In listening to a recitation of theBharata and at each Parana, O best of kings, one that desires to attainto the highest good should listen with the greatest care and attention.One should listen to the Bharata every day. One should proclaim themerits of the Bharata every day. One in whose house the Bharata occurs,has in his hands all those scriptures which are known by the name ofJaya. The Bharata is cleansing and sacred. In the Bharata are diversetopics. The Bharata is worshipped by the very gods. The Bharata is thehighest goal. The Bharata, O chief of the Bharatas, is the foremost ofall scriptures. One attains to Emancipation through the Bharata. Thisthat I tell thee is certain truth. One that proclaims the merits of thishistory called the Mahabharata, of the Earth, of the cow, of Sarasvati(the goddess of speech), of Brahmanas, and of Keshava, has never tolanguish.

“In the Vedas, in the Ramayana, and in the sacred Bharata, O chief ofBharatas race, Hari is sung in the beginning, the middle, and at the end.That in which occur excellent statements relating to Vishnu, and theeternal Srutis, should be listened to by men desirous of attaining to thehighest goal. This treatise is sanctifying. This is the highest indicatoras regards duties; this is endued with every merit. One desirous ofprosperity should listen to it. Sins committed by means of the body, bymeans of words, and by means of the mind, are all destroyed (throughlistening to the Bharata) as Darkness at sunrise. One devoted to Vishnuacquires (through this) that merit which is acquired by listening to theeighteen Puranas. There is no doubt in this. Men and women (by listeningto this) would certainly attain to the status of Vishnu. Women desirousof having children should certainly listen to this which proclaims thefame of Vishnu. One desirous of attaining to the fruits that attach to arecitation of the Bharata should, according to ones power, give unto thereciter Dakshina, as also an honorarium in gold. One desirous of ones owngood should give unto the reciter a Kapila cow with horns cased in goldand accompanied by her calf, covered with a cloth. Ornaments, O chief ofBharatas race, for the arms, as also those for the ears, should be given.Besides these, other kinds of wealth should be presented. Unto thereciter, O king of men, gift of land should be made. No gift like that ofland could ever be or will be. The man that listens (to the Bharata) orthat recites it to other people, becomes cleansed of all his sins andattains at last to the status of Vishnu. Such a man rescues his ancestorsto the eleventh degree, as also himself with his wives and sons, O chiefof Bharatas race. After concluding a recitation of the Bharata, oneshould, O king, perform a Homa with all its ten parts.

“I have thus, O chief of men, told everything in thy presence. He thatlistens with devotion to this Bharata from the beginning becomes cleansedof every sin even if he be guilty of Brahmanicide or the violation of hispreceptors bed, or even if he be a drinker of alcohol or a robber ofother peoples wares, or even if he be born in the Chandala order.Destroying all his sins like the maker of day destroying darkness, such aman, without doubt, sports in felicity in the region of Vishnu likeVishnu himself.”