दुष्प्राप्यं मानुषैः पुण्यं प्रयागं तु युधिष्ठिर देवदानवगन्धर्वा ऋषयः सिद्धचारणाः तदुपस्पृश्य राजेन्द्र स्वर्गलोकमुपासते
O Yudhishthira, Prayaga is a sacred place difficult for humans to attain; O king, gods, demons, gandharvas, sages, siddhas, and charanas, after bathing there, dwell in the heavenly realms.
शृणु राजन्प्रयागस्य माहात्म्यं पुनरेव तु यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते नात्र संशयः
Hear again, O king, the greatness of Prayaga; by hearing this, one is freed from all sins—of this there is no doubt.
आर्तानां हि दरिद्राणां निश्चितव्यवसायिनाम् स्थानमुक्तं प्रयागं तु नाख्येयं तु कदाचन
For those who are afflicted, poor, or steadfast in resolve, Prayaga is declared as the place; it should never be spoken of lightly.
व्याधितो यदि वा दीनो वृद्धो वापि भवेन्नरः गङ्गायमुनयोर्मध्ये यस्तु प्राणान्परित्यजेत्
Whether diseased, distressed, or aged, if a man gives up his life between the Ganga and Yamuna,
दीप्तकाञ्चनवर्णाभैर् विमानैः सूर्यसंनिभैः गन्धर्वाप्सरसां मध्ये स्वर्गे क्रीडति मानवः
He plays in heaven among gandharvas and apsaras, in radiant aerial chariots shining like gold and the sun.
ईप्सितांल्लभते कामान् वदन्ति ऋषिपुंगवाः सर्वरत्नमयैर्दिव्यैर् नानाध्वजसमाकुलैः वराङ्गनासमाकीर्णैर् मोदते शुभलक्षणैः
He obtains all desired enjoyments, say the foremost sages, in celestial abodes adorned with all kinds of jewels, filled with many banners, surrounded by beautiful women with auspicious marks, delighting in their company.
गीतवाद्यविनिर्घोषैः प्रसुप्तः प्रतिबुध्यते यावन्न स्मरते जन्म तावत्स्वर्गे महीयते
Awakened by the sounds of singing and music, he enjoys honor in heaven until he forgets his birth.
ततः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टः क्षीणकर्मा दिवश्च्युतः हिरण्यरत्नसम्पूर्णे समृद्धे जायते कुले तदेव स्मरते तीर्थं स्मरणात्तत्र गच्छति
Then, fallen from heaven when his merit is exhausted, he is born in a prosperous family filled with gold and jewels; he remembers that holy place, and by recalling it, he goes there again.
देशस्थो यदि वारण्ये विदेशस्थो ऽथवा गृहे प्रयागं स्मरमाणो ऽपि यस्तु प्राणान्परित्यजेत् ब्रह्मलोकमवाप्नोति वदन्ति ऋषिपुंगवाः
Whether in his own land, in the forest, abroad, or at home, whoever departs remembering Prayaga attains the world of Brahma, say the foremost sages.
सर्वकामफला वृक्षा मही यत्र हिरण्मयी ऋषयो मुनयः सिद्धास् तत्र लोके स गच्छति
He goes to that world where the trees grant all desires, the earth is golden, and sages, ascetics, and perfected beings dwell.
स्त्रीसहस्रावृते रम्ये मन्दाकिन्यास्तटे शुभे मोदते ऋषिभिः सार्धं सुकृतेनेह कर्मणा
Surrounded by a thousand women on the beautiful bank of the Mandakini, he delights with the sages, as a result of his virtuous deeds here.
सिद्धचारणगन्धर्वैः पूज्यते दिवि दैवतैः ततः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टो जम्बूद्वीपपतिर्भवेत्
He is honored in heaven by siddhas, charanas, gandharvas, and gods; then, fallen from heaven, he becomes a lord of Jambudvipa.
ततः शुभानि कर्माणि चिन्तयानः पुनः पुनः गुणवान्वित्तसम्पन्नो भवतीह न संशयः
Then, reflecting again and again on virtuous deeds, he becomes endowed with virtues and wealth in this world—of this there is no doubt.
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा धर्मसत्यप्रतिष्ठितः गङ्गायमुनयोर्मध्ये यस्तु गां सम्प्रयच्छति
Whoever, established in righteousness and truth by deed, mind, and word, gives a cow between the Ganga and Yamuna,
सुवर्णमणिमुक्ताश्च यदि वान्यत्परिग्रहम् स्वकार्ये पितृकार्ये वा देवताभ्यर्चने ऽपि वा सफलं तस्य तत्तीर्थं यथावत्पुण्यमाप्नुयात्
Whether it be gold, jewels, pearls, or any other gift, for his own purpose, for his ancestors, or in worship of the gods, that holy place yields its full merit to him.
एवं तीर्थे न गृह्णीयात् पुण्येष्वायतनेषु च निमित्तेषु च सर्वेषु ह्य् अप्रमत्तो भवेद्द्विजः
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.
कपिलां पाटलावर्णां यस्तु धेनुं प्रयच्छति स्वर्णशृङ्गीं रौप्यखुरां कांस्यदोहां पयस्विनीम्
Whoever gives a tawny-red cow, with reddish hue, golden horns, silver hooves, bronze vessel for milking, and yielding milk,
प्रयागे श्रोत्रियं सन्तं ग्राहयित्वा यथाविधि शुक्लाम्बरधरं शान्तं धर्मज्ञं वेदपारगम्
Having caused a worthy Brahmin at Prayaga to accept it according to the proper rule—one who is calm, clad in white, learned in righteousness, and accomplished in the Vedas—
सा गौस्तस्मै प्रदातव्या गङ्गायमुनसंगमे वासांसि च महार्हाणि रत्नानि विविधानि च
That cow should be given to him at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna, along with garments of great value and various kinds of jewels.
यावद्रोमाणि तस्या गोः सन्ति गात्रेषु सत्तम तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोके महीयते
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.
यत्रासौ लभते जन्म सा गौस्तस्याभिजायते न च पश्यति तं घोरं नरकं तेन कर्मणा उत्तरान्स कुरून्प्राप्य मोदते कालमक्षयम्
Wherever that person is born, that cow is born with him; and by that act, he does not see that terrible hell. Having reached the northern Kurus, he enjoys endless time.
गवां शतसहस्रेभ्यो दद्यादेकां पयस्विनीम् पुत्रान्दारांस्तथा भृत्यान् गौरेका प्रति तारयेत्
If one gives a single milking cow from among a hundred thousand cows, he delivers his sons, wives, and servants, each by each, through that one cow.
तस्मात्सर्वेषु दानेषु गोदानं तु विशिष्यते दुर्गमे विषमे घोरे महापातकसम्भवे गौरेव रक्षां कुरुते तस्माद्देया द्विजोत्तमे
Therefore, among all gifts, the gift of a cow is supreme. In difficult, perilous, and dreadful situations, where great sins arise, only the cow provides protection; thus, it should be given to the best of twice-born.
यथा यथा प्रयागस्य माहात्म्यं कथ्यते त्वया तथा तथा प्रमुच्ये ऽहं सर्वपापैर्न संशयः
Just as you recount the greatness of Prayaga, so, in the same measure, am I freed from all sins—of this there is no doubt.
भगवन्केन विधिना गन्तव्यं धर्मनिश्चयैः प्रयागे यो विधिः प्रोक्तस् तन्मे ब्रूहि महामुने
O Lord, by what procedure should one go, with certainty in righteousness, to Prayaga? Tell me, O great sage, the prescribed rule for that.
कथयिष्यामि ते राजंस् तीर्थयात्राविधिक्रमम् आर्षेण विधिनानेन यथादृष्टं यथाश्रुतम्
I shall tell you, O King, the proper order of pilgrimage, according to the ancient rule, as seen and as heard.
प्रयागतीर्थयात्रार्थी यः प्रयाति नरः क्वचित् बलीवर्दसमारूढः शृणु तस्यापि यत्फलम्
Hear also the result for one who, desiring the pilgrimage to Prayaga, goes there mounted on a bull.
नरके वसते घोरे गवां क्रोष्टा हि दारुणे सलिलं न च गृह्णन्ति पितरस्तस्य देहिनः
He dwells in a dreadful hell, in a harsh region of cows' cries; his ancestors do not accept water from that embodied one.
यस्तु पुत्रांस्तथा बालान् स्नापयेत् पाययेत्तथा यथात्मना तथा सर्वं दानं विप्रेषु दापयेत्
But he who bathes his sons and young children, and gives them water to drink, and gives all gifts to Brahmins as he would for himself—
ऐश्वर्यलोभमोहाद्वा गच्छेद्यानेन यो नरः निष्फलं तस्य तत्सर्वं तस्माद्यानं विवर्जयेत्
If a man goes by vehicle out of greed for wealth or out of delusion, all that becomes fruitless for him; therefore, one should avoid going by vehicle.