तदरण्यं प्रविष्टस्य तुङ्गकं राजसत्तम। पापं प्रणश्यत्यखिलं स्त्रिया वा पुरुषस्य वा
For one who enters that Tuṅga forest, O best of kings, all sin is destroyed, whether of a woman or a man.
तत्रमासं वसेद्धीरो नियतो नियताशनः। ब्रह्मलोकं व्रजेद्राजन्कुलं चैव समुद्धरेत्
If a steadfast person dwells there for a month, with self-control and regulated diet, O King, he attains the world of Brahma and uplifts his lineage.
मेधाविकं समासाद्य पितॄन्देवांश्च तर्पयेत्। अग्निष्टोममवाप्नोति स्मृतिं मेधां च विन्दति
Arriving at Medhāvika, and offering oblations to the ancestors and gods, one obtains the fruit of an Agniṣṭoma and acquires memory and intelligence.
अत्र कालञ्जरं गत्वा पर्वतं लोकविश्रुतम्। तत्र देवह्रदे स्नात्वा गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्
Here, upon reaching Kālañjara, the renowned mountain, and bathing in the divine lake there, one obtains the merit of giving a thousand cows.
आत्मानं स्नापयेत्तत्रगिरौ कालञ्जरे नृप। स्वर्गलोके महीयेत नरो नास्त्यत्र संशयः
There, on Mount Kalanjara, O King, one should bathe oneself; a person is honored in heaven—there is no doubt of this.
ततो गिरिवरश्रेष्ठे चित्रकूटे विशांपते। मन्दाकिनीं समासाद्य सर्वपापप्रणाशिनीम्
Then, O lord of the people, on the most excellent mountain, Citrakuta, having reached the Mandakini, the destroyer of all sins—
तत्राभिषेकं कुर्वाणः पितृदेवार्चने रतः। अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति गतिं च परमां व्रजेत्
He who performs ablutions there, devoted to the worship of ancestors and gods, attains the merit of an ashvamedha and reaches the highest state.
ततो गच्छेत धर्मज्ञ भर्तृस्थानमनुत्तमम्। यत्र नित्यं महासेनो गुहः सन्निहितो नृप
Then, O knower of righteousness, one should go to the most excellent place of the Lord, where mighty Karttikeya, Guha, is always present, O King.
तत्र गत्वा नृपश्रेष्ठ गमनादेव सिध्यति। कोटितीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा गोसहस्रफलं लभेत्
Having gone there, O best of kings, one succeeds merely by arriving; by bathing at Kotitirtha, a man obtains the fruit of a thousand cows.
प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्य ज्येष्ठस्थानं व्रजेन्नरः। अभिगम्य महादेवं विराजति यथा शशी
After circumambulating, a man should go to the foremost place, Jyestha; approaching the great god, who shines like the moon.
तत्र कूपे महाराज विश्रुता भरतर्षभ। समुद्रास्तत्र चत्वारो निवसन्ति युधिष्ठिर
There, O great king, is a renowned well, O bull among the Bharatas; there, O Yudhishthira, the four oceans reside.
तत्रोपस्पृश्य राजेन्द्र पितृदेवार्चने रतः। नियतात्मा नरः पूतो गच्छेत परमां गतिम्
There, after touching the water, devoted to the worship of ancestors and gods, a self-restrained man becomes purified and attains the highest state.
ततो गच्छेत राजेन्द्र शृङ्गबेरपुरं महत्। यत्रतीर्णो महाराज रामो दाशरथिः पुरा
Then, O king, one should go to the great city of Shrngaverapura, where formerly Rama, son of Dasharatha, crossed.
रकतस्मिंस्तीर्थे महाबाहो स्नात्वा पापैः प्रमुच्यते। गङ्गायां तु नरः स्नात्वा ब्रह्मचारी समाहितः
At that holy place, O mighty-armed, by bathing one is freed from sins; and by bathing in the Ganga, a devoted celibate—
विधूतपाप्मा भवति वाजपेयं च विन्दति। ततो मुञ्जवटं गच्छेत्स्थानं देवस्य धीमतः
Becomes cleansed of sin and attains the fruit of a Vajapeya sacrifice; then one should go to Munjavaṭa, the place of the wise god.
अभिगम्य महादेवमभिवाद्य च भारत। प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत् यगाणपत्यमवाप्नुयात्
Having approached and saluted Mahadeva, O Bharata, and having circumambulated, one obtains the merit of having sons.
तस्मिंस्तीर्थे तु जाह्नव्यां स्नात्वा पापैः प्रमुच्यते। ततो गच्छेत राजेन्द्र प्रयागमृषिसंस्तुतम्
At that holy place on the Jahnavi, by bathing one is freed from sins; then, O king, one should go to Prayaga, praised by the sages.
यत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवा दिशश्च सदिगीश्वराः। लोकपालाश्च साध्याश्च पितरो लोकसंमताः
Where Brahma and the other gods, and the guardians of the directions with their lords, and the protectors of the worlds, the Sadhyas, and the honored ancestors—
सनत्कुमारप्रमुखास्तथैव परमर्षयः। अङ्गिरःप्रमुखाश्चैव तथा ब्रह्मर्षयोऽमलाः
And the supreme sages led by Sanatkumara, and the Brahmarshis led by Angiras, pure and spotless—
तथा नागाः सुपर्णश्च सिद्धाश्चक्रचरास्तथा। सरितः सागराश्चैव गन्धर्वाप्सरसोऽपि च
And likewise the Nagas, Suparnas, Siddhas, those who move in circles, the rivers, and the oceans, and also Gandharvas and Apsaras—
हरिश्च भगवानास्ते प्रजापतिपुरस्कृतः। तत्र त्रीण्यग्निकुण्डानि येषां मध्येन जाह्नवी
And the blessed Hari himself, preceded by the lord of creatures, abides there; there are three fire-altars, through the midst of which flows the Jahnavi.
प्रयागादभिनिष्क्रान्ता सर्वतीर्थपुरस्कृता। तपनस्य सुता देवी त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुता
Having emerged from Prayaga, honored above all holy places, the goddess, daughter of the Sun, renowned in the three worlds.
यमुना गङ्गया सार्धं संगता लोकपावनी। गङ्गायमुनयोर्मध्यं पृथिव्या जघनं स्मृतम्
The Yamuna, joined with the Ganga, purifies the world; the region between the Ganga and Yamuna is regarded as the womb of the earth.
प्रयागं जघनस्थानमुपस्थमृषयो विदुः। प्रयागं सप्रतिष्ठानं कम्बलाश्वतरौ तथा
The sages know Prayaga as the place situated at the womb; Prayaga, along with Pratishthana, Kambala, and Ashvatara.
तीर्थं भोगवती चैव वेदिरेषा प्रजापतेः। तत्रवेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च मूर्तिमन्तो युधिष्ठिर
This is the sacred site called Bhogavati, the altar of Prajapati; here, O Yudhishthira, the Vedas and sacrifices are manifest.
प्रजापतिमुपासन्ते ऋषयश्च तपोधनाः। यजन्ते क्रतुभिर्देवास्तथा चक्रधरा नृपाः
Here, ascetic sages worship Prajapati; the gods perform sacrifices, and kings bearing weapons do likewise.
ततः पुण्यतमं नाम त्रिषु लोकेषु भारत। प्रयागं सर्वतीर्थेभ्यः प्रवदन्त्यधिकं विभो
Therefore, O Bharata, Prayaga is called the most sacred in the three worlds; it is declared superior to all other holy places, O mighty one.
श्रवणात्तस्य तीर्थस् नामसंकीर्तनादपि। मृत्युकालभयाच्चापि नरः पापात्प्रमुच्यते
By hearing of this holy place, by uttering its name, or by fear at the hour of death, a person is freed from sin.
तत्राभिषेकं यः कुर्यात्संगमे लोकविश्रुते। पुण्यं स फलमाप्नोति राजसूयाश्वमेधयोः
Whoever performs ablution at the renowned confluence attains the merit equal to that of the Rajasuya and Ashvamedha sacrifices.
एषा यजनभूमिर्हि देवानामभिसंस्कृता। तत्र रदत्तं सूक्ष्ममपि महद्भवति भारत
This is indeed the sacrificial ground sanctified by the gods; even the smallest offering made here becomes great, O Bharata.