The poem ends much like how it started—with the characters singing the praises of the power of storytelling. Vyasa promises that his hymn has the literal power to reward people who recite it often enough, just as several figures assert that reciting the
Mahabharata itself helps people achieve victory in life. The final passage centers the concept of dharma, showing that, across its sprawling length, the
Mahabharata continues to explore the ideal way for people to live.