Mahabharata 18.5.44

18.5.44

sa naraḥ pāpanirmuktaḥ kīrtiṃ prāpyeha śaunaka |
gacchetparamikāṃ siddhimatra me nāsti saṃśayaḥ || 44 ||

Narada recited the Mahabharata to the gods; Asita-Devala to the Pitris; Suka to the Rakshasas and the Yakshas; and Vaishampayana to human beings. This history is sacred, and of high import, and regarded as equal to the Vedas. That man, O Saunaka, who hears this history, placing a Brahmana before him, acquires both fame and the fruition of all his wishes. He who, with fervid devotion, listens to a recitation of the Mahabharata, attains (hereafter) to high success in consequence of the merit that becomes his through understanding even a very small portion thereof. All the sins of that man who recites or listens to this history with devotion are washed off.