Janamejaya asked - "According to what rites one should listen to Mahaabhaarat? What are the fruits of hearing it? What Devtaa should be worshipped during its Paaraayan? What kings of gifts should be given at every Parv (or on the holy day)? And what type of reciter should one engage?"

Vaishampaayan Jee said - "Listen to what you have asked me. All Devtaa came to Earth for sport. They finished their tasks and went away to their Lok. At one place in Mahaabhaarat one can see eternal Rudra, Saadhya, Vishwdev, Aaditya, Ashwinee Kumaar, Guhyak, Gandharv, Naag, Vidyaadhar, the Self-born visible in a body (Krishn), hills, mountains, oceans, seas, Apsaraa, planets, year, half-year. Hearing their activities (Leelaa) and names one is cleansed from his terrible Paap.

One should make all kinds of gifts to Braahman according to one's capacity - cows, pots of white brass for milking cows, gems, maidens adorned with every ornament, various kinds of conveyances, mansions, piece of land, animals like horses, elephants etc, or anything which is related to house hold may be given to Braahman. Even oneself, one's own wife and children can also be given.

The reciter should sit comfortably and recite it neither slowly nor hastily, neither at a high pitch not at a low pitch, rather one should read it comfortably, clearly and naturally. All the 63 letters of alphabet should be read and heard clearly. He should wear white robes, and should have full control over his passions. Whoever is hearing it, he should hear it with great Shraddhaa, not with any kind of doubts, with pure mind, cheerfully, with joy, and make donations with joy accordingly. One should bow to Nar and Naaraayan and Saraswatee along with saying Jaya before their names. Who recites and who listens to Mahaabhaarat like this he gets all kinds of fruits.

At its first Paaraayan, one should make gifts to Braahman. By doing this one gets the fruits of Agnishtom sacrifice. At its second Paaraayan, one gets the fruits of Atiraatra vow. He ascends a celestial vehicle made entirely of precious gems and is received in Heaven with respect. At its third Paaraayan one gets the fruits of Dwaadash vow. He lives in Heaven for very long time like a Devtaa. At its fourth Paaraayan, he gets the fruits of Baajpeya Yagya. At the fifth Paaraayan, he gets the fruits twice of that. He ascends the celestial vehicle, goes to Heaven and lives for very many years in the abode of Indra. At the sixth, twice and at the seventh, thrice of those fruits are his. He ascends the vehicle looking like Kailaash Parvat in beauty adorned with various valuable gems and goes to Heaven.

At the eighth Paaraayan he gets the fruits of Raajsooya Yagya. He ascends the vehicle as a rising Moon, yoked with white horses, run by speed of thoughts. He is served by women whose faces are more charming than Moon. He sleeps with his head in their laps and wakes up fresh. At the ninth Paaraayan, one gets the fruits of Ashwamedh Yagya. Ascending a vehicle with a chamber with a roof supported by golden columns, a seat made of lapis lazuli, windows on all sides made of gold, and teeming with Apsaraa, Gandharv and other celestials, he is received in Heaven like a second Devtaa. At the tenth Paaraayan and satisfying Braahman, he gets much better and more beautiful celestial vehicle and goes to Heaven. There he lives for many long years. He gets the company of Gandharv for full 21,000 years and lives with Indra. He can go to Soorya Lok, Chandra Lok, Shiv's abode, and even Vishnu's abode. A person who listens to it with faith also gets similar fruits. One should give the Braahman whatever he wishes - virtually anything. By worshipping him like a Devtaa, one attains the region of Vishnu.

Now you listen to, as what should be given to Braahman, after each Parv is finished, after ascertaining their birth, country, truthfulness, and piety; even to Kshatriya too. As one Parv is finished one should worship Braahman accordingly. At first he should be duly fed with honey and wheat porridge

(1) When the Aasteek Parv is being recited, the Braahman should be fed with fruits and roots, wheat porridge, honey and Ghee, and rice Kheer.
(2) When the Sabhaa Parv is being recited, the Braahman should be fed with Havishya, Apoop and Modak.
(3) When the Aranya Parv is being recited, the Braahman should be fed with fruits and roots.
(4) When the Arani Parv is being recited, water pots full of water should be given away. Many superior kinds of foods, fruits, roots, rice should be presented to Braahman.
(5) During the recitation of Viraat Parv, various kinds of clothes should be given away.
(6) During the recitation of Udyog Parv, one should offer perfume and garlands and should be fed with every kind of agreeable food.
(7) During the recitation of Bheeshm Parv, a conveyance should be given along with feeding him the best kind of food.
(8) During the recitation of Drone Parv, a superior kind of food should be fed, and beds, swords and bows should be given away.
(9) During the recitation of Karn Parv, good food should be offered apart from feeding him with an excellent food.
(10) During the recitation of Shalya Parv, food with confectionery, boiled rice with raw sugar, cakes of wheat, drinks should be presented to him.
(11) During the recitation of Gadaa Parv (Sauptikaa Parv), he should be fed food with Mudga.
(12) During the recitation of Stree Parv, the Braahman should be presented with gems and precious stones.
(13) During the recitation of Shaanti Parv, the Braahman should be fed with Havishya.
(14) During the recitation of Ashwamedh Parv, an agreeable quality of food should be fed.
(15) During the recitation of Mausal Parv, scents, garlands and good food should be given away.
(16) During the recitation of Mahaaprasthaan Parv, a similar kind of food and things should be given.
(17) During the recitation of Swargaarohan Parv, the Braahman should be fed with Havishya.
(18) After the whole Mahaabhaarat is finished, the householder should give a copy of Mahaabhaarat with a piece of gold.
(19) When the Harivansh Puraan is being recited, the Braahman should be fed with frumentary at each Paaraayan.
(20) When all Parv are over, the householder should wear white clothes, garlands, and ornaments, place a copy of Mahaabhaarat on an auspicious spot, cover it with a piece of silken cloth, worship it properly offering each at a time. In fact several copies should be worshipped like this and should be given away to Braahman with foods, garlands, and auspicious articles of enjoyment. By doing this one attains the fruits of Atiraatra Yagya. If the Braahman is gratified, then Devtaa are satisfied.

I have thus told you everything. Now you should observe them with faith. One should listen to Mahaabhaarat every day. It is the foremost of all scriptures. In the Ved, in the Raamaayan, in the Mahaabhaarat, Hari is sung from the beginning till end. This is the highest indicator regarding duties. By listening to this one gets the merits of listening all 18 Puraan. All kinds of sins, committed by mind, speech and action, are washed away by listening to it. Who listen to it must give Dakshinaa and an honorarium in the form of gold. No gift is comparable to the gift of land. After the recitation one should do Havan with its ten parts."

18-Swargaarohan Parv Ends Here
END OF MAHAABHAARAT