ततः पुण्यतमं नास्ति त्रिषु लोकेषु भारत । प्रयागं सर्वतीर्थेभ्यः प्रभावेणाधिकं प्रभो
Therefore, O Bharata, there is nothing more sacred in the three worlds; Prayaga surpasses all holy places in its power, O Lord.
श्रवणात्तस्य तीर्थस्य नामसंकीर्तनादपि । मूर्धका नमनाद्वापि सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते
By hearing the name of that holy place, by reciting its name, or by bowing one's head, one is freed from all sins.
तत्राभिषेकं यः कुर्यात्संगमे संशितव्रतः । पुण्यं सुमहदाप्नोति राजसूयाश्वमेधयोः
Whoever, steadfast in vows, performs ablution at the confluence there, attains great merit, equal to that of Rajasuya and Ashvamedha sacrifices.
एषा यजनभूमिर्हि देवानामपि तत्कथा । दत्तं तत्र स्वल्पमपि महद्भवति भारत
This is indeed the place of worship for the gods; even a small gift given there becomes great, O Bharata.
न देववचनात्तात न लोकवचनादपि । मतिरुत्क्रमणीया ते प्रयागमरणं प्रति
O father, neither by the words of gods nor by the words of men should your resolve waver regarding dying at Prayaga.
दशतीर्थसहस्राणि षष्टिकोट्यस्तथापराः । येषां सान्निध्यमत्रैव कीर्त्तितं कुरुनंदन
Ten thousand holy places and sixty crore others are said to be present here, O descendant of Kuru.
चतुर्विद्ये च यत्पुण्यं सत्यवादिषु चैव यत् । स्नातएवतदाप्नोतिगंगायामुनसंगमे
Whatever merit is gained from the four Vedas or from truth-tellers, one attains that by bathing at the confluence of Ganga and Yamuna.
ततो भोगवती नाम वासुकेस्तीर्थमुत्तमम् । तत्राभिषेकं यः कुर्यात्सोऽश्वमेधमवाप्नुयात्
Then comes Bhogavati, the supreme holy place of Vasuki; whoever bathes there attains the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice.
तत्र हंसप्रपतनं तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम् । दशाश्वमेधिकं चैव गंगायां कुरुनंदन
There is the Hamsa-prapatana, a holy place famed in the three worlds; and the ten-Ashvamedha site on the Ganga, O descendant of Kuru.
कुरुक्षेत्रसमा गंगा यत्र तत्रावगाहिता । विशेषो वै कनखले प्रयागं परमं महत्
Where the Ganga equals Kurukshetra and is entered there, the special greatness is at Kanakhala; Prayaga is supremely great.
यद्यकार्यशतं कृत्वा कृतं गंगावसेवनम् । सर्वं तत्तस्य गंगापो दहत्यग्निरिवेंधनम्
Even after committing a hundred wrongful acts, service to the Ganga burns them all, as fire consumes fuel.
सर्वं दहति गंगापस्तूलराशिमिवानलः । सर्वं कृतयुगे पुण्यं त्रेतायां पुष्करं स्मृतम्
The waters of the Ganga burn everything, like fire burns a heap; all merit in the Krita age, and in Treta, Pushkara is remembered.
द्वापरे तु कुरुक्षेत्रं गंगा कलियुगे स्मृता । पुष्करे तु तपस्तप्येद्दानं दद्यान्महालये
In the Dvapara age, Kurukshetra was renowned, and in the Kali age, the Ganga is remembered; one should perform austerity at Pushkara and give gifts at Mahalaya.
मलये त्वग्निमारोहेद्भृगुतुंगे त्वनाशनम् । पुष्करे तु कुरुक्षेत्रे गंगापो मध्यगेषु च
In Malaya, one should ascend the fire; at Bhrigutunga, one should fast; at Pushkara, at Kurukshetra, and in the middle of the Ganga's waters.
सद्यस्तारयते जंतुः सप्तसप्तावरांस्तथा । पुनाति कीर्त्तिता पापं दृष्ट्वा पुण्यं प्रयच्छति
A creature is instantly delivered, along with seven generations, and when praised, it destroys sin and bestows merit upon being seen.
अवगाढा च पीत्वा च पुनात्यासप्तमं कुलम् । यावदस्थि मनुष्यस्य गंगायाः स्पृशते जलम्
By bathing in or drinking it, one purifies up to the seventh generation; as long as a person's bones touch the water of the Ganga.
तावत्स पुरुषो राजन्स्वर्गलोके महीयते । यथा पुण्यानि तीर्थानि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च
For that long, O King, a person is honored in the heavenly world; just as holy are the sacred fords and holy shrines.
उपास्य पुण्यं लब्ध्वा च भवति परलोकभाक् । न गंगा सदृशं तीर्थं न देवः केशवात्परः
Having worshipped and obtained merit, one attains the next world; there is no ford like the Ganga, no god greater than Keshava.
ब्राह्मणेभ्यः परं नास्ति एवमाह पितामहः । यत्र गंगा महाराज स देशस्तत्र योजनम्
There is nothing higher than the Brahmins, so says the Grandsire; wherever the Ganga flows, O great king, that land is a league in extent.
सिद्धक्षेत्रं च विज्ञेयं गंगातीरसमाश्रितम् । इदं सत्यं द्विजातीनां साधूनां मानसेषु च
That region along the banks of the Ganga should be known as a field of perfection; this is truth for the twice-born, the virtuous, and those of pure mind.
मुक्तिं चैव जपेत्कर्णे शिष्टस्यानुगतस्य च । इदं धर्म्यमिदं मेध्यमिदं स्वर्ग्यमिदं सुखम्
Reciting the liberation mantra in the ear of a worthy follower; this is righteous, this is pure, this is heavenly, this is blissful.
इदं पुण्यतमं रम्यं पावनं धर्ममुत्तमम् । महीशीर्षमिदं गुह्यं सर्वपापप्रमोचनम्
This is most holy, delightful, purifying, and the highest dharma; this is the great secret of the earth, the remover of all sins.
अधीत्य द्विजमध्ये च निर्मलत्वमवाप्नुयात् । श्रीमत्स्वर्ग्यं महापुण्यं सपत्नशमनं शिवम्
By reciting this among the twice-born, one attains purity; it is glorious, heavenly, of great merit, the destroyer of enemies, and auspicious.
मेधाजननमग्र्यं वै तीर्थवंशानुकीर्त्तनम् । अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रमधनो धनमाप्नुयात्
It generates intelligence, is supreme, and recounts the lineages of sacred fords; a sonless man obtains a son, a poor man gains wealth.
महीं विजयते राजा वैश्यो धनमवाप्नुयात् । शूद्रो यातीप्सितान्कामान्ब्राह्मणः पारगः पठन्
A king conquers the earth, a merchant obtains wealth; a servant attains desired pleasures, and a Brahmin, by reciting, crosses over.
यश्चेदं शृणुयान्नित्यं तीर्थपुण्यं सदा शुचि । जातिस्मरत्वमाप्नोति नाकपृष्ठे च मोदते
Whoever hears this daily, always pure, about the merit of the sacred fords, attains remembrance of past births and rejoices in the highest heaven.
गम्यान्यपि च तीर्थानि कीर्तितान्यगमान्यपि । मनसाप्यभिगच्छेत सर्वतीर्थमनीषया
Even those sacred fords that are mentioned but not visited, one should approach them mentally, with intent, as all sacred fords.
एतानि वसुभिः साध्यैरादित्यैर्मरुदश्विभिः । ऋषिभिर्देवकल्पैश्च कृतानि सुकृतैषिभिः
These were established by the Vasus, the Adityas, the Maruts, the Ashvins, and by sages equal to the gods, who sought good deeds.
एवं त्वमपि कौरव्य विधिनानेन सुव्रत । व्रज तीर्थानि नियतः पुण्यं पुण्येन वर्द्धते
Thus, you too, O Kaurava, with this discipline, O virtuous one, go to the sacred fords with self-control; merit increases by merit.
भावितैः करणैः पूर्वमास्तिक्याछ्रुतिदर्शनात् । प्राप्यंते तानि तीर्थानि सद्भिः शिष्टानुदर्शिभिः
With purified actions, with faith, hearing, and vision from before, those sacred fords are attained by the good, who follow the example of the worthy.