With a heart full of reverence, the sacred rite began. For the satisfaction of all the divine beings, water was offered with devotion. After performing the upavīta, the sacred thread ceremony for the gods, the rite of nivīta was observed in due order. With faith, offerings were made to satisfy not only humans, but also the sons of Brahmā—the ancient sages Sanaka, Sananda, and Sanātana. The wise Kapila, Asuri, Voḍhu, and Pañcaśikha were remembered too, with prayers that they always be content with these libations. The great sages—Marīci, Atri, Aṅgiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Pracetas, Vasiṣṭha, Bhṛgu, and Nārada—along with all the divine and Brahmanical rishis, were honored with a continuous stream of water. Then, with the sacred thread first worn apasavya and then savya, and the right knee touching the ground, offerings were made to the Agniṣvāttas, the Saumyas, the Haviṣmats, and the Uṣmapās, the revered classes of ancestors. The timely Barhiṣads, the Vājyapās, and all the ancestors were satisfied with devotion, using water mixed with sesame seeds and sandalwood, as prescribed. Prayers and salutations were sent to Yama, the lord of Dharma; to Death, Antaka, Vaivasvata, Time, and the destroyer of all beings. Audumbara, Dadhna, Nila, Parameshthin, Vrikodara, Chitra, and Chitragupta were also invoked and honored. With darbha grass in hand, the wise continued to satisfy the ancestors according to the sacred traditions. Having thus honored the paternal and maternal ancestors by name and lineage, with devotion and proper rites, a special mantra was recited. The prayer extended even to those who were not relatives in this life, or who had been kin in previous births, wishing that all may find complete satisfaction—whoever desired it from the performer as well. After sipping water as prescribed, a lotus was drawn in front. Unbroken rice, flowers, water, and red sandalwood were carefully offered as arghya, while the many names of the Sun were recited. Homage was paid to the one who bears the form and face of Vishnu, the thousand-rayed, eternal, all-radiant lord. Salutations were offered to Shiva, master of all, affectionate to every being, adorned with divine sandalwood. The deity seated on the lotus, adorned with earrings and armlets, lord of all worlds who awakens the universe, was praised with folded hands. The all-pervading one who sees all good and evil deeds, the god of truth, was invoked: “Salutations to you; be gracious to me, O Bhaskara.” Further salutations were offered to Divakara and Prabhakara, names of the Sun. Having thus worshipped the Sun three times and circumambulated, the ritual concluded by touching a Brahmin, a cow, and gold, before proceeding to the abode of Vishnu. Now, let me recount the sacred story of Prayaga, as once narrated by the sage Markandeya to a son of the Pandu dynasty in ancient times. After the great events of the Bharata war had unfolded and the son of Pritha, Yudhishthira, had ascended the throne, the king was tormented by grief for his fallen brothers. Again and again, he pondered these sorrows, sitting in council with King Suyodhana, the commander of vast armies. All those who had caused suffering were now gone; only the five Pandavas, sustained by Vasudeva, remained. Bhishma, Drona, the mighty Karna, and King Duryodhana with his sons and brothers—all had been slain. Countless kings and those who thought themselves heroes had perished. Yudhishthira cried out to Govinda, “What use is this kingdom to us now? What use are pleasures, or even life itself?” Overwhelmed by the horror of it all, the king stood motionless, his head bowed in deep despair. When he regained his senses, he pondered which sacred observance or pilgrimage he might undertake to be swiftly freed from the stain of such great sin—hoping that by so abiding, he might reach the supreme realm of Vishnu. He struggled with how he might approach Krishna, by whose counsel these deeds had been done, or how to face Dhritarashtra, whose hundred sons had been lost. He wondered how he could even speak to Vyasa, whose family had been destroyed. Thus, King Yudhishthira, crushed by sorrow, and all the Pandavas, grieving for their brothers, wept together. All those noble souls gathered there—Pandavas, Kunti, Draupadi, and others—were overcome with grief, falling to the ground and weeping in every direction. In Varanasi, Yudhishthira remembered the sage Markandeya, and as he wept in his distress, Markandeya, the great ascetic, soon arrived at Hastinapura and stood at the royal gate. The gatekeeper, seeing the revered sage, quickly informed Yudhishthira: “Markandeya wishes to see you; he stands at the door.” The king hurried to greet him, exclaiming, “Welcome, O highly fortunate one! Welcome, O great sage! Today my birth is made fruitful, my lineage is saved. Today my ancestors are pleased, for I have seen you. I am purified in body, for I have beheld you.” Yudhishthira, noble of heart, seated the sage upon the throne and honored him with foot-washing and other rites. Pleased by this welcome, Markandeya turned to the king and asked, “Tell me, O king, why do you weep? What troubles you, what causes you distress, and what displeases you?” Yudhishthira replied, “O great sage, all that has happened to us for the sake of the kingdom has left me in deep anxiety.” Markandeya, wise and compassionate, said, “Hear, O king of mighty arms, the established law of warriors: No sin is ascribed in battle to the wise who fight. Especially for a king, for a Kshatriya, this is so. Therefore, keep your heart firm and do not grieve over sin.” Still, Yudhishthira, bowing his head in humility, asked the sage about the destruction of all sins: “I ask you, O great wise one, who sees the three worlds—tell me briefly, by what means may one be freed from sin?