तस्माद्द्विजपदं साक्षात्सर्वतीर्थमयं शुभम् । भजेतानुदिनं विद्वांस्तत्र तीर्थाधिकं भवेत्
Therefore, the wise should daily honor the feet of a twice-born, which are directly the embodiment of all holy places; there, the merit of holy places is surpassed.
अश्वत्थस्य तुलस्याश्च गवां कुर्यात्प्रदक्षिणम् । सर्वतीर्थफलंप्राप्य विष्णुलोके महीयते
One who circumambulates the aśvattha tree, the tulasī plant, and cows attains the fruit of all holy places and is honored in Viṣṇu's world.
तस्माद्दुष्कृतकर्माणि नाशयेत्तीर्थसेवनात् । अन्यथा नरकं याति कर्म्मभोगाद्धि शाम्यति
Therefore, one should destroy sinful deeds by serving holy places; otherwise, one goes to hell and is subdued by the experience of karma.
पापिनां नरके वासः सुकृती स्वर्गमश्नुते । तस्मात्पुण्यं निषेवेत तीर्थं खलु विचक्षणः
The sinful dwell in hell, while the virtuous enjoy heaven; therefore, the wise should indeed pursue merit and holy places.
ऋषय ऊचुः- श्रुतानि किल तीर्थानि समाहात्म्यानि सुव्रत । इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामः प्रयागस्य विशेषकम्
The sages said: The holy places and their glories have indeed been heard, O virtuous one; now we wish to hear in detail about Prayāga.
प्रयागं तु पुरा प्रोक्तं संक्षेपात्सूत यत्त्वया । विशेषाच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामः सूत नः कथ्यतामिति
Prayāga was mentioned by you earlier in brief, O Sūta; we wish to hear about it in detail—please tell us.
सूत उवाच- साधु पृष्टं महाभागाः प्रयागं प्रति सुव्रताः । हंताहं तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रयागस्योपवर्णनम्
Sūta said: Excellent is your question, O noble ones, regarding Prayāga, O virtuous ones. Now I shall describe the account of Prayāga.
मार्कंडेयेन कथितं यत्पुरा पांडुसूनवे । भारते तु यदा वृत्ते प्राप्तराज्ये पृथासुते
That which was once narrated by Mārkaṇḍeya to the son of Pāṇḍu, when the events in the Bhārata had occurred and the son of Pṛthā had attained the kingdom.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे राजा कुंतीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । भ्रातृशोकेन संतप्तः चिंतयंस्तु पुनः पुनः
Meanwhile, King Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Kuntī, afflicted by grief for his brothers, kept pondering again and again.
आसीद्दुर्योधनो राजा एकादशचमूपतिः । अस्मान्संतप्य बहुशः सर्वे ते निधनं गताः
Duryodhana was king, commander of eleven armies; he tormented us greatly, and all those have now met their end.
वासुदेवं समाश्रित्य पंचशेषास्तु पांडवाः । कथं द्रोणं च भीष्मं च कर्णं चैव महाबलम्
The five surviving Pāṇḍavas, relying on Vāsudeva, wondered how they had slain Droṇa, Bhīṣma, and mighty Karṇa.
दुर्योधनं च राजानं भ्रातृपुत्रसमन्वितम् । राजानो निहताः सर्वे ये चान्ये शूरमानिनः
And King Duryodhana, accompanied by his brothers and sons; all the kings were slain, and others who prided themselves on valor.
विना राज्येन कर्तव्यं किं भोगैर्जीवितेनवा । धिक्कष्टमिति संचिंत्य राजा विह्वलतां गतः
What is to be done with the kingdom, or with pleasures or even with life? Thinking 'Alas, how wretched!' the king became distraught.
निश्चेष्टोऽथ निरुत्साहः किं चित्तिष्ठत्यधोमुखः । लब्धसंज्ञो यदा राजा चिंतयानः पुनः पुनः
Motionless and dispirited, he sat with his head bowed; when the king regained consciousness, he kept reflecting again and again.
कं चरे विधिना योगं नियमं तीर्थमेव वा । येनाहं शीघ्रमामुच्ये महापातककिल्बिषात्
By what means should I practice discipline, yoga, or pilgrimage, so that I may quickly be freed from the great burden of sin?
यत्र स्नात्वा नरो याति विष्णुलोकमनुत्तमम् । कथं पृच्छामि वै कृष्णं येनेदं कारितं महत्
Where, by bathing, a man attains the supreme realm of Viṣṇu—how shall I ask Kṛṣṇa, by whom this great deed was accomplished?
धृतराष्ट्रं कथं पृच्छे यस्य पुत्रशतं हतम् । व्यासं कथमहं पृच्छे यस्य गोत्रक्षयः कृतः
How shall I ask Dhṛtarāṣṭra, whose hundred sons were slain? How shall I ask Vyāsa, whose lineage has been destroyed?
एवं वैक्लव्यमापन्नो धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । रुदंतः पांडवाः सर्वे भ्रातृशोकपरिप्लुताः
Thus, overwhelmed with despair, Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Dharma, and all the Pāṇḍavas, wept, overcome by grief for their brothers.
ये च तत्र महात्मानः समेताः पांडवाश्रिताः । कुंती च द्रौपदी चैव ये च तत्र समागताः
Those noble souls who had gathered there, who supported the Pāṇḍavas—Kuntī, Draupadī, and all those assembled there.
भूमौ निपतिताः सर्वे रोदमानाः समंततः । वाराणस्यां तु मार्कंडस्तेन ज्ञातो युधिष्ठरः
All of them fell to the ground, weeping in every direction; and in Vārāṇasī, Mārkaṇḍeya became aware of Yudhiṣṭhira.
यथाविक्लवमापन्नो रोदमानः सुदुःखितः । अचिरेणैव कालेन मार्कंडस्तु महातपाः
Seeing him plunged in despair, weeping and deeply distressed, in a short time, Mārkaṇḍeya, the great ascetic,
हस्तिनापुर संप्राप्तो राजद्वारे स तिष्ठति । द्वारपालोऽपि तं दृष्ट्वा राज्ञः कथितवान्द्रुतम्
Arrived at Hastināpura and stood at the royal gate; the gatekeeper, seeing him, quickly informed the king.
त्वां द्रष्टुकामो मार्कंडो द्वारे तिष्ठत्यसौ मुनिः । त्वरितो धर्मपुत्रस्तु द्वारमेत्याह तत्परः
Mārkaṇḍeya, wishing to see you, stands at the gate, O sage; the son of Dharma, eager, went swiftly to the gate and spoke with devotion.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- स्वागतं ते महाप्राज्ञ स्वागतं ते महामुने । अद्य मे सफलं जन्म अद्य मे पावितं कुलम्
Yudhiṣṭhira said: Welcome to you, O wise one, welcome to you, O great sage! Today my birth is fruitful, today my lineage is purified.
अद्य मे पितरस्तृप्तास्त्वयि दृष्टे महामुने । सिंहासन उपस्थाप्य पादशौचार्चनादिभिः
Today my ancestors are satisfied, O great sage, upon seeing you; having offered you a seat of honor, with the customary washing of feet and other rites.
युधिष्ठिरो महात्मा वै पूजयामास तं मुनिम् । ततस्तमूचे मार्कण्डः पूजितोऽहं त्वया विभो
The noble Yudhishthira worshipped that sage; then Markandeya said to him, 'O lord, I have been duly honored by you.'
आख्याहि त्वरितो राजन्किमर्थं त्वरितं त्वया । केन वा विक्लवीभूतः कथयस्व ममाग्रतः
Tell me quickly, O king, for what reason you are in such haste; and by what cause you are troubled—speak before me.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- अस्माकं चैव यद्वृत्तं राज्यस्यार्थे महामुने । एतत्सर्वं विदित्वा तु भगवानिह चागतः
Yudhishthira said: O great sage, you know all that has happened to us for the sake of the kingdom; knowing all this, you have come here, O venerable one.
मार्कंडेय उवाच- शृणु राजन्महाबाहो यत्र धर्मो व्यवस्थितः । नैव दृष्टं रणे पापं युध्यमानस्य धीमतः
Markandeya said: Hear, O king of mighty arms, where righteousness is established, no sin is seen in battle for one who fights with wisdom.
किं पुना राजधर्मेण क्षत्रियस्य विशेषतः । तदेवं हृदये कृत्वा तस्मात्पापं न चिंतयेत्
How much more so for a Kshatriya, especially in the duty of kingship; having set this firmly in your heart, you should not think of sin.