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topics. The Bharata is worshipped by the very gods. The Bharata is the highest goal. The Bharata, O chief of the Bharatas, is

the foremost of all scriptures. One attains to Emancipation through the Bharata. This that I tell thee is certain truth. One that

proclaims the merits of this history called the Mahabharata, of the Earth, of the cow, of Sarasvati (the goddess of speech), of

Brahmanas, and of Keshava, has never to languish.

"In the Vedas, in the Ramayana, and in the sacred Bharata, O chief of Bharatas race, Hari is sung in the beginning, the middle,

and at the end. That in which occur excellent statements relating to Vishnu, and the eternal Srutis, should be listened to by men

desirous of attaining to the highest goal. This treatise is sanctifying. This is the highest indicator as regards duties; this is

endued with every merit. One desirous of prosperity should listen to it. Sins committed by means of the body, by means of

words, and by means of the mind, are all destroyed (through listening to the Bharata) as Darkness at sunrise. One devoted to

Vishnu acquires (through this) that merit which is acquired by listening to the eighteen Puranas. There is no doubt in this. Men

and women (by listening to this) would certainly attain to the status of Vishnu. Women desirous of having children should

certainly listen to this which proclaims the fame of Vishnu. One desirous of attaining to the fruits that attach to a recitation of

the Bharata should, according to ones power, give unto the reciter Dakshina, as also an honorarium in gold. One desirous of

ones own good should give unto the reciter a Kapila cow with horns cased in gold and accompanied by her calf, covered with a

cloth. Ornaments, O chief of Bharatas race, for the arms, as also those for the ears, should be given. Besides these, other kinds

of wealth should be presented. Unto the reciter, O king of men, gift of land should be made. No gift like that of land could ever

be or will be. The man that listens (to the Bharata) or that recites it to other people, becomes cleansed of all his sins and attains

at last to the status of Vishnu. Such a man rescues his ancestors to the eleventh degree, as also himself with his wives and sons,

O chief of Bharatas race. After concluding a recitation of the Bharata, one should, O king, perform a Homa with all its ten

parts.

"I have thus, O chief of men, told everything in thy presence. He that listens with devotion to this Bharata from the beginning

becomes cleansed of every sin even if he be guilty of Brahmanicide or the violation of his preceptors bed, or even if he be a

drinker of alcohol or a robber of other peoples wares, or even if he be born in the Chandala order. Destroying all his sins like

the maker of day destroying darkness, such a man, without doubt, sports in felicity in the region of Vishnu like Vishnu

himself."

The End of the Svargarohanika-parva

The Eighteen parvas of the Mahabharata are thus complete