Is it bad luck to keep the Mahābhārata at home?

no — this is a folk belief with no basis in scripture; the Mahābhārata itself praises its hearing.

Some families say that keeping or reading the Mahābhārata at home brings quarrels, because the story is about a family torn apart. It is an understandable worry, but there is no such rule in the scriptures. The epic ends with verses praising those who hear and read it, and it contains the Bhagavad Gītā, the Viṣṇu Sahasranāma and the Yakṣa questions — texts recited in homes every day.

A story about a family quarrel is not a cause of quarrels; it is more like a warning label. Reading it can actually help a family recognise jealousy, favouritism and pride before they grow.

If an elder in your home is uneasy, respect their feelings: keep the book in a clean place, read it with reverence, and perhaps start with the Gītā or the Śānti Parva. Over time, the fear usually fades.

Contains the Gītā and Viṣṇu Sahasranāma · Source: Mahābhārata, closing verses (phalaśruti)

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