नदीनां चैव तीरेषु देवतायतनेषु च
On the banks of rivers and in temples of the gods,
जपेदीशं नमस्कृत्य स याति परमां गतिम्
He should recite the Lord's name, having bowed; he attains the supreme goal.
इदानीं तु प्रयागस्य माहात्म्यं ब्रूहि सुव्रत
Now, tell the greatness of Prayāga, O virtuous one.
इदानीं कथयास्माकं सूत सर्वार्थविद् भवान्
Now, tell us, O Sūta, knower of all meanings.
प्रयागस्य च माहात्म्यं यत्र देवः पितामहः
And the greatness of Prayāga, where the god, the Grandfather, [Brahmā]—
यथा युधिष्ठिरायैतत् तद्वक्ष्ये भवतामहम्
As it was told to Yudhiṣṭhira, so I shall relate it to you.
शोकेन महाताविष्टा मुमोह स युधिष्ठिरः
Yudhiṣṭhira, overwhelmed by great sorrow, fainted.
संप्राप्तो हास्तिनपुरं राजद्वारे स तिष्ठति
He reached Hastināpura and stood at the royal gate.
मार्कण्डेयो द्रष्टुमिच्छंस्त्वामास्ते द्वार्यसौ मुनिः
Markandeya, that sage, is waiting at the door, desiring to see you.
स्वागतं ते महाप्राज्ञ स्वागतं ते महामुने
Welcome to you, O greatly wise one; welcome to you, O great sage.
अद्य मे पितरस्तुष्टास्त्वयि तुष्टे महामुने
Today my ancestors are satisfied, for you, O great sage, are pleased.
युधिष्ठिरो महात्मेति पूजयामास तं मुनिम्
Yudhishthira, the noble one, honored that sage.
किमर्थं मुह्यसे विद्वन् सर्वं ज्ञात्वाहमागतः
Why are you confused, O learned one? I have come knowing everything.
कथय त्वं समासेन येन मुच्येत किल्बिषैः
Tell me briefly by what means one is freed from sins.
अस्माभिः कौरवैः सार्धं प्रसङ्गान्मुनिपुङ्गव
Together with us Kauravas, O foremost of sages, in various contexts,
मुच्यते पातकादस्मात् तद् भवान् वक्तुमर्हति
One is freed from this sin; you ought to declare that.
प्रयागगमनं श्रेष्ठं नराणां पापनाशनम्
The journey to Prayaga is supreme for men; it destroys sins.
समास्ते भगवान् ब्रह्मा स्वयंभूरपि दैवदैः
There the blessed Brahma, the self-born, abides with the gods.
मृतानां का गतिस्तत्र स्नातानामपि किं फलम्
What is the destiny of those who die there? What is the fruit for those who bathe?
भवता विदितं ह्येतत् तन्मे ब्रूहि नमो ऽस्तु ते
This is known to you; please tell me this. Salutations to you.
पुरा महर्षिभिः सम्यक् कथ्यमानं मया श्रुतम्
Formerly, I heard this properly narrated by the great sages.
अत्र स्नात्वा दिवं यान्ति ये मृतास्ते ऽपुनर्भवाः
Those who die there, having bathed, go to heaven and are not born again.
बहून्यन्यानि तीर्थानि सर्वपापापहानि तु
There are many other holy places, indeed, that remove all sins.
संक्षेपेण प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रयागस्येह कीर्तनम्
I shall briefly declare the praise of Prayaga here.
यमुनां रक्षति सदा सविता सप्तवाहनः
The Sun, with his seven steeds, always protects the Yamuna.
मण्डलं रक्षति हरिः सर्वदेवैश्च सम्मितम्
Hari protects the Mandala, which is revered by all the gods.
स्थानं रक्षन्ति वै देवाः सर्वपापहरं शुभम्
The gods indeed protect this place, which is auspicious and removes all sins.
प्रयागं स्मरमाणस्य सर्वमायाति संक्षयम्
For one who remembers Prayāga, all sins are destroyed.
मुत्तिकालम्भनाद् वापि नरः पापात् प्रमुच्यते
Even by merely touching its mud, a person is freed from sin.
प्रयागं विशतः पुंसः पापं नश्यति तत्क्षणात्
The moment a person enters Prayāga, his sin is destroyed.