When the Harivansa Parva is being recited, Brahmanas should be fed with
frumenty at each successive Parana, O king. Having finished all the
Parvas, one versed in the scriptures, robing himself in white, wearing
garlands, decked with ornaments, and properly purified, should place a
copy of the Mahabharata on an auspicious spot and cover it with a piece
of silken cloth and worship it, according to due rites, with scents and
garlands, offering each at a time. Indeed, O king, the several volumes of
this treatise should be worshipped by one with devotion and concentrated
mind. Offerings should be made unto them of diverse kinds of food and
garlands and drinks and diverse auspicious articles of enjoyment. Gold
and other precious metals should be given as Dakshina. The names should
then be taken of all the deities as also of Nara and Narayana. Then,
adorning the persons of some foremost of Brahmanas with scents and
garlands, they should be gratified with diverse kinds of gifts of
enjoyable and very superior or costly articles. By doing this, one
attains to the merits of the Atiratra sacrifice. Indeed, at each
successive Parva, he acquires the merits that attach to the performance
of a sacrifice. The reciter, O chief of the Bharatas, should be possessed
of learning and endued with a good voice and a clear utterance respecting
both letters and words.
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