O mighty king, listen now to the tale of Prayāga, the sacred place renowned for destroying all sins. It is said that the best journey for those of virtuous deeds is to Prayāga, where the fruits of merit are supreme. Once, a seeker approached a venerable sage and spoke with reverence: “O Lord, I wish to hear as it was told in the ancient times, as spoken by Brahma himself and narrated by you. How do people go to Prayāga? What becomes of those who die there? What happens to those who bathe in its waters? And what is the fate of those who dwell in Prayāga? Please explain, for my curiosity is great.” The sage replied warmly, “Dear one, I shall recount the supreme results of Prayāga, as I heard them among the Brahmins of old. The sacred field of Prajāpati stretches from Prayāga to Pratiṣṭhāna, from the city to Vāsuki’s lake, and between Kambala and Aśvatara, and the serpent Bahumūlaka. This field is famed throughout the three worlds. Those who bathe in Prayāga ascend to heaven, and those who die there are freed from the cycle of birth. Thus, Brahmā and all the gods gather to protect this holy place. There are countless other sacred sites, auspicious and sin-destroying, but their glory cannot be described even in hundreds of years. Let me briefly recount the greatness of Prayāga. Sixty thousand bows guard the Ganges, and the Sun, riding his seven steeds, protects the Yamunā. Indra himself always watches over Prayāga, and Hari, with all the gods, guards its sacred precincts. Śiva, the trident-holder, protects the venerable banyan tree, and the gods defend this auspicious place, which destroys all sin. The world, shrouded in unrighteousness, cannot attain the state granted by Prayāga. Yet even the smallest sin of one who remembers Prayāga is utterly destroyed. By seeing this holy place, by uttering its name, or by taking up its earth, a person is freed from sin. O king, among the five pools at Prayāga, the Ganges is at the center. At the entrance to Prayāga, sin is destroyed instantly. Even from a thousand leagues away, remembering the Ganges brings the highest state—even to those who have committed evil deeds. By praising the Ganges, one is freed from sin; by seeing her, one beholds auspicious things; by bathing and drinking her waters, one purifies up to the seventh generation of one’s family. Those who speak truth, conquer anger, practice nonviolence, follow righteousness, know reality, and delight in the welfare of cows and Brahmins—such persons, bathing between the Ganges and Yamunā, are freed from sin. Whatever desires they contemplate, they obtain in abundance. Going to Prayāga, protected by all the gods, a celibate should dwell there for a month, offering oblations to ancestors and gods. Wherever he is born, his wishes are fulfilled. There flows the goddess Yamunā, daughter of the Sun and blessed in the three worlds, and there Lord Maheśvara is ever present. O Yudhishthira, Prayāga is a sacred place difficult for humans to attain. Gods, demons, gandharvas, sages, siddhas, and charanas, after bathing there, dwell in heavenly realms. Hear again, O king, the greatness of Prayāga. Simply by hearing it, one is freed from all sins—there is no doubt. For those afflicted, poor, or steadfast in resolve, Prayāga is declared the place; it should never be spoken of lightly. Whether diseased, distressed, or aged, if a man gives up his life between the Ganga and Yamuna, he plays in heaven among gandharvas and apsaras, in radiant aerial chariots shining like gold and the sun. He obtains all desired enjoyments in celestial abodes adorned with jewels, banners, and beautiful women with auspicious marks. Awakened by singing and music, he enjoys honor in heaven until he forgets his earthly birth. When his merit is exhausted and he falls from heaven, he is born in a prosperous family filled with gold and jewels. He remembers Prayāga, and by recalling it, he returns there again. Whether in his own land, in the forest, abroad, or at home, whoever departs remembering Prayāga attains the world of Brahma. There, the trees grant all desires, the earth is golden, and sages, ascetics, and perfected beings dwell. Surrounded by a thousand women on the beautiful bank of the Mandakini, he delights with the sages, as a result of his virtuous deeds. He is honored in heaven by siddhas, charanas, gandharvas, and gods. Then, fallen from heaven, he becomes a lord of Jambudvipa. Reflecting again and again on virtuous deeds, he becomes endowed with virtues and wealth in this world—of this there is no doubt. Whoever, established in righteousness and truth by deed, mind, and word, gives a cow between the Ganga and Yamuna—whether it be gold, jewels, pearls, or any other gift, for his own purpose, for his ancestors, or in worship of the gods—receives the full merit from that holy place. Thus, one should not accept gifts at such a holy place or in sacred shrines; in all such occasions, a twice-born should always be vigilant. Whoever gives a tawny-red cow, with golden horns, silver hooves, a bronze vessel for milking, and yielding milk, and causes a worthy Brahmin at Prayāga to accept it according to the proper rule—one who is calm, clad in white, learned in righteousness, and accomplished in the Vedas—should give that cow at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna, along with valuable garments and various jewels. For as many hairs as are on the body of that cow, O best of men, for that many thousands of years he is honored in the world of heaven. Such is the glory of Prayāga, O king, the place where sins are destroyed, merits multiplied, and the blessings of the gods bestowed in abundance.