श्रद्धावाननसूयश्च श्रृणुयादपि यो नरः ।
सोऽपि मुक्तः शुभाँल्लोकान्प्राप्नुयात्पुण्यकर्मणाम् ॥ १८.७१ ॥

śraddhāvān-anasūyaś-ca śṛṇuyād-api yo nara: |
so’pi mukta: śubhāllokān-prāpnuyāt-puṇya-karmaṇām || 18.71 ||

Sādhanā through devout listening

What more? To study the message in essence, to expose it and to realize it in all spiritual detail – all these are indeed rare. At the same time, it also implies that when rightly exposed, it is possible for people to listen to the gospel and be rewarded. Any pious person will like to listen to the exposition. Such an attunement has its own merits and charms. It offers nourishment to the mind and heart, as it did for Arjuna. It also caters to the intelligence, because there is such a strong rationality. It is also philosophical, making any intellectual its votary.

Many, therefore, will come and listen to the gospel. What is the merit and blessing of such listening? Does it help one in anyway? Not all will have the time and ability to read and understand the dialogue on their own. But they have the earnestness and interest to devoutly listen to the talks and expositions. Is there any benefit and reward for it?

Krishna has clear views on this also:

Also, whosoever listens to this discourse with attention, and is free from envious distractions, becomes liberated. He too attains the auspicious worlds of the meritorious.

Even listening to the Bhagavad Gita dialogue and its message is highly rewarding. It takes away the dross of the mind, enriches one with holiness and virtue, which in turn, will make him deserve the highest attainment. What does this mean? Even those, who are given to rituals, should take to listening to the Bhagavad Gita exposition. Such listening or reading will itself bestow on them what the Vedic rituals eloquently promise. In that way also, listening and reading Bhagavad Gita is very relevant and rewarding.

See how beautifully Krishna pacifies, encourages and exhorts people to become spiritually oriented. It is admirable to note how Krishna, Vyasadeva, and the epic authors, present their thoughts before the readers. This is where our epics stand distinct, as an ennobling and elevating literature. They involve the readers so well that by the very involvement, their minds and hearts get purified, the intelligence becomes sharp and discreet, resulting in a process of inner refinement.