मनसा चिंतितान्कामान्सम्यक्प्राप्नोति पुष्कलान् । ततो गत्त्वा प्रयागं तु सर्वदेवाभिरक्षितम्
He attains all the desires he contemplates in his mind, in abundance; therefore, having gone to Prayaga, which is protected by all the gods—
ब्रह्मचारी वसेन्मासं पितृदेवांश्च तर्पयेत् । ईप्सिताँल्लभते कामान्यत्र तत्राभिजायते
A celibate should dwell there for a month and offer oblations to the ancestors and gods; he attains the desired objects and is born there again.
तपनस्य सुता देवी त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुता । समागता महाभागा यमुना यत्र निम्नगाः
The goddess Yamuna, daughter of the Sun, renowned in the three worlds, has come together there, O blessed one, where the rivers descend.
तत्र सन्निहितो नित्यं साक्षाद्देवो महेश्वरः । दुष्प्रापं मानुषैः पुण्यं प्रयागं तु युधिष्ठिर
There, Lord Maheshvara is always present in person; O Yudhishthira, Prayaga is a holy place difficult for humans to attain.
देवदानवगंधर्वा ऋषयः सिद्धचारणाः । तत्रोपस्पृश्य राजेंद्र स्वर्गलोके महीयते
Gods, demons, Gandharvas, sages, Siddhas, and Charanas—having bathed there, O king, are honored in the heavenly world.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडे एकचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the forty-first chapter in the Svarga-khanda of the glorious Padma Purana.
मार्कंडेय उवाच- शृणु राजन्प्रयागस्य माहात्म्यं पुनरेव तु । यं गत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते नात्र संशयः
Markandeya said: Hear again, O king, the greatness of Prayaga, by going to which one is freed from all sins—of this there is no doubt.
आर्तानां च दरिद्राणां निश्चितव्यवसायिनाम् । स्थानं मुक्त्वा प्रयागं तु नाक्षयं तु कदाचन
For the distressed, the poor, and those with firm resolve, there is no imperishable place except Prayaga.
गंगायमुनमासाद्य यस्तु प्राणान्परित्यजेत् । दीप्तकांचनवर्णाभे विमाने सूर्यवर्चसि
Whoever, having reached the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna, gives up his life there, enjoys in heaven among shining aerial cars, radiant as the sun and gold.
गंधर्वाप्सरसां मध्ये स्वर्गे मोदति मानवः । ईप्सिताँल्लभतेकामान्वदंति ऋषिपुंगवाः
In the midst of Gandharvas and Apsaras, the man rejoices in heaven; he attains the desired objects, so declare the foremost of sages.
सर्वरत्नमयैर्दिव्यैर्नानाध्वजसमाकुलैः । वरांगना समाकीर्णैर्मोदते शुभलक्षणैः
He delights, surrounded by divine jewels of every kind, adorned with many banners, and attended by beautiful women bearing auspicious marks.
गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषैः प्रसुप्तः प्रतिबुध्यते । यावन्न स्मरते जन्म तावत्स्वर्गे महीयते
He awakens to the sounds of singing and musical instruments, and is honored in heaven until he forgets his earthly birth.
तत्र स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टः क्षीणकर्म्मा दिवश्च्युतः । हिरण्यरत्नसंपूर्णे समृद्धे जायते कुले
When his merit is exhausted and he falls from heaven, he is born into a prosperous family filled with gold and jewels.
तदेव स्मरते तीर्थं स्मरणात्तत्र गच्छति । देशस्थो यदि वारण्ये विदेशे यदि वा गृहे
He remembers that holy place, and by recalling it, he reaches it, whether he is in his own land, in the forest, abroad, or at home.
प्रयागं स्मरमात्रोपि यस्तु प्राणान्परित्यजेत् । स ब्रह्मलोकमाप्नोति वदंति ऋषिपुंगवाः
Even one who merely remembers Prayāga at the moment of death attains the world of Brahma, so declare the foremost sages.
सर्वकामफलावृत्ता मही यत्र हिरण्मयी । ऋषयो मुनयः सिद्धा यत्र लोके प्रगच्छति
The earth there is golden and yields all desired fruits; sages, ascetics, and perfected beings go to that world.
स्त्रीसहस्रा कुले रम्ये मंदाकिन्यास्तटे शुभे । मोदते ऋषिभिः सार्द्धं स्वकृतेनेह कर्मणा
In a delightful family, on the beautiful bank of the Mandākinī, he enjoys with thousands of women and with sages, by the merit of his own deeds.
सिद्धचारणगन्धर्वैः पूज्यते दिवि दैवतैः । ततः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टो जंबुद्वीपपतिर्भवेत्
He is honored in heaven by Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Gandharvas, and the gods; then, falling from heaven, he becomes lord of Jambudvīpa.
ततः शुभानि कर्माणि चिंतयानः पुनः पुनः । गुणवान्वित्तसंपन्नो भवतीह न संशयः
Thinking again and again of virtuous deeds, he becomes endowed with qualities and wealth in this world, without doubt.
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा सत्यधर्मप्रतिष्ठितः । गंगायमुनयोर्मध्ये यस्तु दानं प्रयच्छति
Established in truth and righteousness by deed, mind, and speech, whoever gives charity between the Ganges and Yamuna—
सुवर्णंमणिमुक्तां वा यदि धान्यं प्रतिग्रहम् । स्वकार्ये पितृकार्ये वा देवताभ्यर्चनेऽपि वा
Whether gold, jewels, pearls, or grain, for his own purpose, for ancestral rites, or for worship of the gods—
निष्फलं तस्य तत्तीर्थं यावत्तत्फलमश्नुते । एवं तीर्थेन गृह्णीयात् पुण्येष्वायतनेषु च
That holy place is fruitful for him as long as he enjoys its reward; thus one should accept gifts at holy sites and sacred temples.
निमित्तेषु च सर्वेषु अप्रमत्तो द्विजो भवेत् । कपिलां पाटलावर्णां प्रयागे यः प्रयच्छति
A twice-born should be vigilant in all occasions; whoever gives a Kapilā cow of reddish color at Prayāga—
स्वर्णशृंगीं रौप्यखुरां चैलकंठीं पयस्विनीम् । प्रयागे श्रोत्रियं साधुं ग्राहयित्वा यथाविधि
A cow with golden horns, silver hooves, a cloth around her neck, and full of milk, given at Prayāga to a virtuous Brahmin according to proper rite—
शुक्लांबरधरं शांतं धर्मज्ञं वेदपारगम् । सा गौस्तस्मै च दातव्या गंगायमुनसंगमे
To one who wears white garments, is peaceful, knows righteousness, and is versed in the Vedas, that cow must be given at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna.
वासांसि च महार्हाणि रत्नानि विविधानि च । यावद्रोमाणि तस्या गोः संति गात्रेषु सत्तम
And also fine garments and various jewels, as many as there are hairs on that cow's body, O noble one.
तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोके महीयते । यत्रासौ लभते जन्म सा गौस्तत्राभिजायते
For as many thousands of years in heaven as there are hairs on that cow, he is honored; wherever he is born, that cow is born there too.
न च पश्यत्यसौ घोरं नरकं तेन कर्मणा । उत्तरान्स कुरून्प्राप्य मोदते कालमक्षयम्
And by that deed, he does not see the dreadful hell; reaching the northern Kurus, he enjoys an endless span of time.
गवां शतसहस्रेभ्यो दद्यादेकां पयस्विनीम् । पुत्रान्दारान्तथा भृत्यान्गौरेका प्रतितारयेत्
If one gives a single milking cow, it is as if one has given a hundred thousand cows; such a cow redeems sons, wives, and servants.
तस्मात्सर्वेषु दानेषु गोदानं तु विशिष्यते । दुर्गमे विषमे घोरे महापातकसंभवे । गौरेव रक्षां कुरुते तस्माद्देया द्विजातये
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 a twice-born.