कृत्वाभिषेकं तु नरः सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत् । स्वर्गलोकमवाप्नोति यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्
By performing ablution there, a person obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice and attains heaven until the end of the world.
पूर्वपार्श्वे तु गंगायां त्रिषु लोकेषु भारत । कूपं चैव तु सामुद्रं प्रतिष्ठानं तु विश्रुतम्
On the eastern bank of the Ganga, O Bharata, in the three worlds, the well called Samudra and the place called Pratishthana are renowned.
ब्रह्मचारी जितक्रोधस्त्रिरात्रं यदि तिष्ठति । सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत्
If a celibate, self-controlled and free from anger, stays there for three nights, his soul purified from all sins, he obtains the fruit of the Ashvamedha sacrifice.
उत्तरेण प्रतिष्ठानाद्भागीरथ्यास्तु पूर्वतः । हंसप्रपतनं नाम तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम्
To the north of Pratishthana and east of the Bhagirathi is the sacred ford called Hamsaprapatana, famed throughout the three worlds.
अश्वमेधफलं तस्मिन्स्नातमात्रस्य भारत । यावच्चन्द्रश्च सूर्यश्च तावत्स्वर्गे महीयते
O Bhārata, one who bathes there at once attains the fruit of an Aśvamedha sacrifice, and is honored in heaven for as long as the moon and sun endure.
उर्वशीपुलिने रम्ये विपुले हंसपांडुरे । सलिलैस्तर्प्पयेद्यस्तु पितॄंस्तत्र विमत्सरः
Whoever, free from envy, offers water to the ancestors at the beautiful, broad, swan-white sandbank of Urvaśī—
षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि षष्टिवर्षशतानि च । सेवते पितृभिः सार्द्धं स्वर्गलोकं नराधिप
That king enjoys the world of heaven together with his ancestors for sixty thousand and sixty hundred years.
पूज्यते सततं तत्र ऋषिगंधर्वकिन्नरैः । ततः स्वर्गपरिभ्रष्टः क्षीणकर्म्मा दिवश्च्युतः
There, he is constantly honored by sages, Gandharvas, and Kinnaras; then, when his merit is exhausted, he falls from heaven.
उर्वशीसदृशीनां तु कन्यानां लभते शतम् । गवां शतसहस्राणां भोक्ता भवति भूमिप
He obtains a hundred maidens like Urvaśī, and becomes the enjoyer of a hundred thousand cows, O ruler of the earth.
कांचीनूपुरशब्देन सुप्तोऽसौ प्रतिबुध्यते । भुक्त्वा तु विपुलान्भोगांस्तत्तीर्थं लभते पुनः
He awakens from sleep to the sound of golden anklets, and after enjoying great pleasures, he attains that holy place again.
कुशासनधरो नित्यं नियतः संयतेंद्रियः । एककालं तु भुंजानो मासं भोगपतिर्भवेत्
Always seated on a mat of kuśa grass, disciplined and self-controlled, if he eats only once a day, he becomes lord of enjoyments for a month.
सुवर्णालंकृतानां तु नारीणां लभते शतम् । पृथिव्यामासमुद्रायां महाभोगपतिर्भवेत्
He obtains a hundred women adorned with gold, and becomes a great lord of enjoyments on earth, as far as the oceans.
दशग्रामसहस्राणां भोक्ता भवति भूमिपः । धनधान्यसमायुक्तो दाता भवति नित्यशः
He becomes the enjoyer of ten thousand villages, always endowed with wealth and grain, and is ever a generous giver.
स भुक्त्वा विपुलान्भोगांस्तत्तीर्थं स्मरते पुनः । अथ तस्मिन्वटे रम्ये ब्रह्मचारी जितेंद्रियः
After enjoying great pleasures, he remembers that holy place again; then, at that delightful banyan tree, a celibate with controlled senses—
उपोष्य योगयुक्तश्च ब्रह्मज्ञानमवाप्नुयात् । कोटितीर्थं समासाद्य यस्तु प्राणान्परित्यजेत्
Having fasted and practiced yoga, he attains knowledge of Brahman; whoever gives up his life at Koṭitīrtha—
कोटिवर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोके महीयते । ततः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टः क्षीणकर्म्मा दिवश्च्युतः
He is honored in heaven for a thousand crore years; then, when his merit is exhausted, he falls from heaven.
सुवर्णमणिमुक्ताढ्ये कुले भवति रूपवान् । ततो भोगवतीं गत्वा वासुकेरुत्तरेण तु
He is born in a family rich in gold, jewels, and pearls, possessing beauty; then, going to the city of Bhogavatī, north of Vāsuki—
दशाश्वमेधकं तत्र तीर्थं तत्रापरं भवेत् । कृत्वाभिषेकं तु नरः सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत्
There is another holy place, equal to ten Aśvamedha sacrifices; by performing ablution there, a man obtains the fruit of an Aśvamedha.
धनाढ्यो रूपवान्दक्षो दाता भवति धार्मिकः । चतुर्वेदेषु यत्पुण्यं सत्यवादिषु यत्फलम्
He becomes wealthy, handsome, skilled, generous, and righteous; whatever merit comes from the four Vedas or from truthfulness—
अहिंसायां तु यो धर्म्मो गमनादेव तद्भवेत् । कुरुक्षेत्रसमा गंगा यत्रतत्रावगाह्यते
The merit of nonviolence is obtained merely by going there; wherever the Gaṅgā is bathed in, it is equal to Kurukṣetra.
कुरुक्षेत्राद्दशगुणा यत्र सिंध्वा समागता । यत्र गंगा महाभागा बहुतीर्थतपोधना
Where the Sindhu joins, it is ten times greater than Kurukṣetra; where the blessed Gaṅgā, rich in many holy places and austerities, is found—
सिद्धक्षेत्रं हि तज्ज्ञेयं नात्र कार्या विचारणा । क्षितौ तारयते मर्त्यान्नागांस्तारयतेऽप्यधः
That should be known as a field of perfection; there is no need for doubt here. It delivers mortals on earth and even delivers the nāgas below.
दिवि तारयते देवांस्तेन सा त्रिपथा स्मृता । यावदस्थीनि गंगायां तिष्ठंति तस्य देहिनः
In heaven, she delivers the gods; thus she is called the triple path. As long as the bones of that embodied one remain in the Ganga,
तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोके महीयते । तीर्थानां तु परं तीर्थं नदीनामुत्तमा नदी
for so many thousands of years he is honored in the world of heaven. Of all sacred places, she is the supreme; among rivers, the best river.
मोक्षदा सर्वभूतानां महापातकिनामपि । सर्वत्र सुलभा गंगा त्रिषु स्थानेषु दुर्लभा
She grants liberation to all beings, even to the greatest sinners. Everywhere, the Ganga is easily found, but in three places she is rare.
गंगाद्वारे प्रयागे च गंगासागरसंगमे । तत्र स्नात्वा दिवं यांति ये मृतास्तेऽपुनर्भवाः
At the gateway of the Ganga, at Prayaga, and at the confluence of Ganga and the ocean—those who bathe there ascend to heaven; those who die there do not return to birth.
सर्वेषां चैव भूतानां पापोपहतचेतसाम् । गतिमन्वेषमाणानां नास्ति गंगासमा गतिः
For all beings whose minds are afflicted by sin, seeking a path, there is no way equal to the Ganga.
पवित्राणां पवित्रं या मंगलानां च मंगलम् । महेश्वरशिरोभ्रष्टा सर्वपापहरा शुभा
She is the purity of the pure, the auspiciousness of the auspicious; fallen from the head of Maheshvara, she is auspicious and removes all sin.
मार्कंडेय उवाच- शृणु राजन्प्रयागस्य माहात्म्यं पुनरेव तु । यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते नात्र संशयः
Markandeya said: Hear again, O king, the greatness of Prayaga. By hearing this, one is freed from all sins; there is no doubt.
मानसं नाम तत्तीर्थं गंगायामुत्तरे तटे । त्रिरात्रोपोषितो भूत्वा सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्
There is a sacred place called Manasa on the northern bank of the Ganga. Having fasted for three nights, one attains all desires.