On the resplendent banks of the Mandakini, a virtuous soul, surrounded by a thousand women, delights in the company of sages, the fruit of his righteous deeds on earth. In heaven, he is honored by siddhas, charanas, gandharvas, and the gods themselves. Yet, when his time in heaven is complete, he descends and is born as a lord over Jambudvipa. Reflecting again and again on virtuous deeds, he finds himself endowed with both virtue and wealth in this world—of this, there is no doubt. Whoever, steadfast in righteousness and truth in deed, mind, and word, gives a cow between the sacred rivers Ganga and Yamuna—be it gold, jewels, pearls, or any other gift, offered for himself, his ancestors, or in worship of the gods—receives the full merit of that holy place. Therefore, it is taught that one should not accept gifts at such a sacred site or shrine; at all such times, the twice-born must remain vigilant. If one gives a tawny-red cow, radiant in color, with golden horns, silver hooves, a bronze vessel for milking, and yielding abundant milk, and causes a worthy Brahmin at Prayaga—one who is calm, clad in white, learned in righteousness, and versed in the Vedas—to accept it according to the proper rites, then that cow, together with valuable garments and various jewels, should be presented at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna. For every single hair on the cow’s body, the giver is honored in the heavenly world for thousands of years. Wherever that person is reborn, the cow is born alongside him, and by this act, he is spared from the torments of terrible hell. Instead, he reaches the northern Kurus and enjoys endless time. Even if one gives a single milking cow out of a hundred thousand, he delivers his sons, wives, and servants—each one—through that one cow. Thus, among all gifts, the gift of a cow is supreme. In times of peril, danger, or great sin, only the cow provides protection; therefore, it should be given to the best among the twice-born. Just as the greatness of Prayaga is recounted, so too is one freed from all sins—there is no doubt about this. Yudhishthira, eager to understand, asks, “O Lord, what is the proper procedure, the righteous way, to approach Prayaga? Please tell me, O great sage, the prescribed rule.” The sage replies, “O King, I shall tell you the proper order of pilgrimage, as taught by the ancients and as I have seen and heard. Hear also the fate of one who, desiring to go to Prayaga, travels there mounted on a bull. Such a person dwells in a dreadful hell, tormented by the cries of cows, and his ancestors do not accept water from him. But he who bathes his sons and young children, gives them water to drink, and makes gifts to Brahmins as he would for himself, acts righteously. If a man goes by vehicle out of greed for wealth or delusion, all his actions become fruitless; thus, one should not go by vehicle. If one gives a maiden in marriage between the Ganga and Yamuna, with Vedic rites and according to his means, he is spared from hell, reaches the northern Kurus, enjoys endless time, and is blessed with righteous and beautiful sons and wives. There, one should make gifts according to his means, for by this, the fruit of the pilgrimage surely increases—there is no doubt. Such a person dwells in heaven until the dissolution of creation. He who, reaching the root of a banyan tree, gives up his life surpasses all worlds and goes to the realm of Rudra. At that place, the twelve suns, resorting to Rudra, burn fiercely, scorching the whole world, yet the root of the banyan remains unburned. When the worlds of the sun and moon are destroyed, and the universe is but a single ocean, there, again and again, Vishnu the sacrificer abides. The gods, Danavas, Gandharvas, seers, Siddhas, and Charanas always serve that sacred confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna. From there, O king of kings, one should go to Prayaga, praising its glory, where Brahma and the other gods, seers, Siddhas, and Charanas are ever present. The guardians of the worlds, the Sadhyas, the esteemed ancestors, Sanatkumara, and the foremost sages are likewise there. There, too, are the great sages led by Angiras—the supreme Brahmarshis—along with the Nagas, Suparnas, Siddhas, and all beings who traverse the sky. The oceans, rivers, mountains, Nagas, Vidyadharas, and blessed Hari himself, accompanied by the lords of creatures, are present. Between the Ganga and Yamuna lies what is considered the very womb of the earth; Prayaga, O tiger among kings, is renowned throughout the three worlds. There is nothing more holy than this in all creation, O Bharata. Merely hearing of this sacred place, uttering its name, or taking up its earth, frees a person from sin. Whoever, steadfast in their vows, bathes at the confluence attains a reward equal to the great Rajasuya and Ashvamedha sacrifices. Let not your resolve to go to Prayaga be shaken, O dear one, by the words of gods or men. Ten thousand sacred places and sixty crores more have their presence here, O descendant of Kuru. The destination attained by a wise man united with yoga and established in truth is also reached by one who gives up his breath at the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna. Those who have not reached Prayaga, O Yudhishthira, have not truly lived; they are deceived in all three worlds. Thus, beholding the sacred place of Prayaga, the supreme abode, one is freed from all sins, just as the moon is freed from Rahu’s grip. There, on the broad bank of the Yamuna, dwell the Nagas Kambala and Ashvatara; by bathing and drinking there, one is freed from all sins.