After performing the prescribed purification by sipping water, the devotee should draw a lotus in front and, with utmost care, offer arghya to the Sun using unbroken rice, flowers, water, and red sandalwood. As the offerings are made, the devotee recites the sacred names of the Sun, honoring him as the one who embodies the form and face of Vishnu, the thousand-rayed, eternal, and all-radiant Lord. The devotee continues, offering salutations to Shiva, the lord of all, the compassionate master of the world, adorned with divine sandalwood. Reverence is also paid to the one seated on the lotus, ornamented with earrings and armlets—the Lord of all worlds, who awakens the entire universe. Recognizing the Sun as the witness of all good and evil deeds, the all-pervading God of truth, the devotee prays for grace from Bhaskara. Further salutations are offered to Divakara and Prabhakara. After worshipping the Sun three times and circumambulating, the devotee respectfully touches a Brahmin, a cow, and gold, before proceeding to the abode of Vishnu. Now, listen as I recount the sacred tale of Prayāga, as narrated by the ancient sage Markandeya to the son of Pandu. In the aftermath of the great events of the Bharata war, when Yudhishthira, son of Kunti, had attained the kingdom, he was tormented by grief for his brothers. Again and again, he pondered the suffering that had befallen them, sitting together with King Suyodhana, commander of eleven mighty armies. Reflecting on the devastation, Yudhishthira thought, “All those who caused us so much pain have perished. Relying on Vasudeva, only the five Pandavas remain. We have slain Bhishma, Drona, the mighty Karna, and King Duryodhana with his sons and brothers. All the kings and self-proclaimed heroes have been killed. O Govinda, what use is this kingdom to us, what use are pleasures or even life itself?” Overwhelmed by sorrow, the king stood motionless, his head bowed in deep distress. When he regained his senses, he considered, again and again, which observance or pilgrimage might free him from the heavy burden of sin, and by which he might attain the supreme realm of Vishnu. He wondered, “How can I approach Krishna, who caused me to act thus? How can I face Dhritarashtra, whose hundred sons have perished? How shall I speak to Vyasa, whose lineage has been destroyed?” Thus, Yudhishthira and all the Pandavas, filled with grief for their lost brothers, wept bitterly. In that assembly, all the great souls—the Pandavas, Kunti, Draupadi, and those gathered—fell to the ground, overcome with sorrow and tears. At that time in Varanasi, the sage Markandeya was known to Yudhishthira. Seeing the king so afflicted, Markandeya, the great ascetic, soon arrived at Hastinapura and stood at the royal gate. The gatekeeper, recognizing the sage, swiftly informed the king, “Markandeya wishes to see you; the sage stands at the door.” Without delay, Yudhishthira hurried to greet him. “Welcome, O highly fortunate one! Welcome, O great sage!” Yudhishthira exclaimed. “Today my birth is made fruitful, today my lineage is saved. My ancestors are pleased to see you, O great sage. Today I am purified, for I have beheld you.” With great reverence, Yudhishthira seated Markandeya upon the throne and honored him with foot-washing and other rites. Pleased by this worship, Markandeya addressed the king: “Tell me, O king, why are you weeping? What troubles you and causes your distress?” Yudhishthira replied, “O great sage, all that has happened to us for the sake of the kingdom has left me anxious and troubled.” Then Markandeya spoke, “Hear, O mighty-armed king, the established law of warriors: for the wise who fight in battle, no sin is seen. This is especially true for kings and Kshatriyas. 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. “O great wise one, who sees all the three worlds, tell me briefly by what means one may be freed from sin.” Markandeya replied, “Hear, O mighty-armed king, of the destruction of all sins: the best path is the journey to Prayāga for those devoted to virtuous deeds.” Yudhishthira then asked, “O Lord, I wish to hear as it was in the ancient cycle, as spoken by Brahma, chief among the gods, and as you, O sage, have properly narrated. How do people go to Prayāga? What is the fate of those who die there? What is the result for those who bathe there? What of those who dwell in Prayāga? Please explain all this to me, for I am eager to know.” Markandeya responded, “Dear one, I shall tell you the supreme result, as I once heard it recited among the Brahmins in ancient times. From Prayāga to Pratiṣṭhāna, from the city to Vāsuki’s lake, and between Kambala and Aśvatara, and the serpent Bahumūlaka—this entire region is the field of Prajāpati, renowned in the three worlds. Those who bathe there ascend to heaven; those who die there do not return to birth. Therefore, Brahmā and the other gods gather to protect it. There are many other holy places, auspicious and destroyers of all sins, O king, but even in hundreds of years, their glory cannot be fully described. I shall briefly recount the glory of Prayāga. Sixty thousand bows guard the Ganges, and the Sun, with his seven steeds, always protects the Yamunā. Indra himself ever protects Prayāga, and Hari, together with the gods, guards the sacred precinct.” Thus, the greatness of Prayāga and the means to destroy all sins were revealed to Yudhishthira by the compassionate sage Markandeya.