Upon beholding the revered sage, a deep sense of fulfillment and gratitude welled up within Yudhishthira. “Today my birth has become truly fruitful, and my entire lineage is redeemed,” he exclaimed with humility. “Simply by seeing you, O sage, I feel blessed and at peace. Your presence has liberated me from sin, and I am cleansed of all stain, now able to know myself clearly.” The sage, pleased by Yudhishthira’s sincerity, replied, “Fortunate indeed is your birth and lineage, O righteous one. By reciting sacred teachings, one’s merit increases; by merely hearing them, sins are washed away.” Eager to learn more, Yudhishthira inquired, “O great sage, tell me of the merit and the fruits that come from the Yamunā. What blessings does she bestow? Please share all that you have seen and heard.” The sage responded, “The goddess Yamunā, daughter of the Sun and renowned throughout the three worlds, is the blessed river that flows here. Just as the Gaṅgā emerged along her sacred path, so too did Yamunā. Across thousands of yojanas, her praises are sung, and through them, sin is destroyed. “O Yudhishthira, those who bathe and drink of the Yamunā gain great merit through her praise, and even by beholding her, they witness auspicious things. By immersing oneself and drinking her waters, one purifies not only oneself but also seven generations of ancestors. Whoever gives up their life upon her banks attains the highest state. “On the southern bank of the Yamunā lies Agni Tirtha, and to the west, the tirtha of Dharmaraja, known as Naraka. Those who bathe there and pass away ascend to heaven and are freed from rebirth. Indeed, thousands of such sacred tirthas exist along the southern bank of the Yamunā. “To the north, I shall speak of the tirtha of the great-souled Aditya, called Niranjana, where the gods, together with Indra, reside. Those who worship there at twilight, thrice daily, are served by the gods and revered by the wise. “Be devoted, O Yudhishthira, and perform the sacred bathings at these tirthas. Many other tirthas are remembered as destroyers of all sins. Those who bathe there and die ascend to heaven and are not reborn. The Gaṅgā and Yamunā are both remembered as equal in the fruits they grant, though Gaṅgā is worshipped everywhere due only to her seniority. “Therefore, O son of Kunti, bathe at all these sacred places, for any sin committed in life is instantly destroyed. Whoever rises early and recites or hears these teachings is freed from all sins and attains the world of heaven.” The sage continued, “I have heard from the Purāṇa born of Brahmā, wherein Brahmā himself spoke of thousands upon thousands of tirthas—each holy, pure, and remembered as granting the highest state. Among these, Somatirtha is of great merit and destroys even the gravest sins; by bathing there, O king, one can save hundreds. Thus, one should make every effort to bathe at Somatirtha. “On earth, Naimisha is most holy; in the sky, Pushkara; and among all the three worlds, Kurukshetra stands supreme. Yet, having abandoned all these, how can one praise only a single tirtha? What is said of them is immeasurable, not easily believed, and truly unsurpassed. “Why do you speak of the highest divine state and desired enjoyments, praising great dharma achieved with little effort? Tell me, as you have seen and heard, for I have this doubt. “One should not speak of what is not to be believed, even if it is evident, to those who lack faith and whose minds are clouded by sin. The faithless, impure, ill-minded, and those abandoned by auspiciousness—all these are sinners, and thus you have spoken. “Now, hear the greatness of Prayāga, as seen and heard, both directly and indirectly. As one has seen, as one has not seen, and as one has heard, using scripture as authority, one should unite the self with yoga. “Yet, another who struggles there may not attain yoga. Even after thousands of lifetimes, yoga is gained by humans only with great difficulty. As yoga is attained after a thousand practices, so too, even if one gives away all jewels to the Brahmins, by that gift alone one does not attain yoga. But at Prayāga, upon death, all this is obtained—nowhere else. “I will declare to you the chief reason—have faith, O Bharata—how Brahman is seen everywhere in all beings. Whatever exists in a Brahmin, even if said to be non-Brahman, Brahman is to be honored everywhere, in all beings. “Therefore, in all the worlds, the wise should honor Prayāga. Indeed, O Yudhishthira, the king of sacred fords is truly to be revered. Even Brahmā always remembers Prayāga, the supreme sacred ford. Having reached the king of tirthas, nothing else is worthy. “For who, having attained divinity, would wish to become human again? By this analogy, understand, O Yudhishthira, as I have spoken of that which is most holy. “You have heard these words as spoken. I am amazed again and again—how is such attainment reached through yoga, and residence in heaven through action? The giver indeed obtains enjoyments and the fruits of his deeds, such as cows. Yet I ask about these actions again—do they grant the earth as well? “Hear, O mighty-armed king, how by prescribed acts, the earth, cows, fire, Brahmin, scripture, gold, water, and women are attained. But those lowest of men who revile mother and father—there is no ascent for them, so declares the Lord of creatures. “Attainment of yoga is a place most difficult to reach; those who commit evil deeds go to a terrible hell. He who steals elephants, horses, cows, carts, jewels, pearls, gold, or anything in secret, and then gives it as a gift afterward—such a one does not go to heaven, where the enjoyers are the true givers. Engaged in such acts, they are cooked again in hell.” Thus, the sage instructed Yudhishthira, revealing the glory of the sacred rivers, the power of holy tirthas, the difficulty of attaining yoga, the supremacy of faith and right action, and the consequences of sin, so that wisdom and reverence might blossom in the heart of the king.