O King, listen to the wondrous fruits that arise from acts performed at the sacred confluence of Prayāga. For every hair follicle on the body of one who bathes there, he is honored in the heavenly realms for as many thousands of years. When his time in heaven is complete and he descends, he is born as a lord over Jambudvīpa, enjoying great pleasures in that land. Even then, the memory of that holy place stirs in his heart once more. Whoever, at the renowned confluence, enters the waters during the eclipse of the moon by Rāhu, is immediately freed from all sins. Such a one attains the world of Soma and delights there for sixty thousand years, honored among the gods. If he should fall from that heaven, he is born into a prosperous family, served by men and Gandharvas in Indra’s realm. There are those who, with great faith, perform austerities: some drink the blazing waters with head downward and feet upward, and for this, they are honored in heaven for one hundred thousand years. Should they fall from there, they become performers of the sacred Agnihotra, enjoying earthly pleasures and, again, seeking that holy place. Consider also the one who, in supreme sacrifice, cuts his own flesh and offers it to the birds, or whose body is consumed by birds. Such a soul is honored in the world of Soma for a hundred thousand years, and, descending from there, is reborn as a righteous king—virtuous, beautiful, learned, and gentle in speech. After enjoying great pleasures, he again seeks the sacred confluence. On the northern bank of the Yamunā, to the south of Prayāga, lies the sacred place called ‘Release from Debt’, esteemed as supreme. One who spends a single night there and bathes is freed from all debts, ascends to heaven, and remains forever free from the bonds of obligation. Having heard this account of Prayāga, the king’s heart is purified by its praise. With devotion, he asks, “O Lord, what is the fruit of fasting there? Of what kind is it, and what world does one attain, cleansed of all sin?” The sage replies, “Hear, O king, of the fruit of fasting at Prayāga: a wise man, full of faith and self-control, attains the highest state. Even if he is whole and healthy, with all senses intact, at every step he gains the merit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice. He delivers ten ancestors before and ten after, is freed from all sins, and attains the supreme goal.” The king marvels at this great fortune, “Indeed, with little effort, one gains so many virtues. Are these fruits attained only by many horse sacrifices? Please remove my doubt.” The sage responds, “Listen, O king, to what the self-born Brahmā declared before the sages. The region of Prayāga, five yojanas wide—merely by entering, at every step one gains the fruit of a horse sacrifice. If a man gives up his life there, he saves seven ancestors who have passed and fourteen who are yet to come. Therefore, one should always be devoted to service. But those who lack faith, whose minds are clouded by sin, cannot attain Prayāga, protected by the gods.” “Those driven by affection or greed for wealth, or led by desire, cannot gain the true fruits of pilgrimage or merit. What of one who, ignorant of right and wrong, sells all his goods at Prayāga?” Again, the sage reveals a great secret: “Whoever bathes at Prayāga for one month with disciplined senses is freed from all sins and attains the supreme state. Even those who have broken trust—if they bathe three times daily and live on alms, in three months they are freed at Prayāga, without doubt. Even if one comes in ignorance, performing pilgrimage and such acts, all desires are fulfilled, one is honored in heaven, and always enjoys abundance. The wise enjoy these pleasures, and by their merit, ancestors and great-grandfathers are rescued from hell.” “You, O king, follower of dharma and knower of truth, have asked well. For your sake, this ancient secret has been revealed. Today my birth is fruitful, my lineage is saved; I am blessed to see you, O sage. By your presence, I am freed from sin and cleansed of all stain. By fortune, your birth and lineage are blessed. By reciting these glories, merit increases; by hearing them, sin is destroyed.” Turning now to the Yamunā, the king asks, “What is the merit there, O great sage? Tell me all, as you have seen and heard.” The sage replies, “The goddess Yamunā, daughter of the Sun, renowned in the three worlds, flows blessed and pure. By the path that Gaṅgā herself took, so too did Yamunā go; for thousands of yojanas, her praise destroys sin.” “There, O Yudhishthira, one who bathes and drinks of the Yamunā attains merit, and by her sight, witnesses auspicious things. By immersion and drinking, one purifies up to the seventh generation; whoever gives up their life there attains the highest state. On the southern bank of the Yamunā is Agni Tirtha, and to the west, the tirtha of Dharmaraja, called Naraka. Those who bathe there and die ascend to heaven and are not reborn. Thus, thousands of sacred tirthas lie along the southern bank of the Yamunā, each conferring its own blessings.” In this way, the sage revealed the glories of Prayāga and the Yamunā, their power to purify, grant merit, fulfill desires, and liberate souls from the bonds of sin and debt, bestowing blessings upon all who seek them with faith and devotion.