अनेन विधिना यस्तु पृथिवीं पर्यटिष्यति । अश्वमेधशतं साग्रं फलं प्रेत्यैष भोक्ष्यते
Whoever travels the earth in this manner will, after death, enjoy the reward equal to a hundred and one Aśvamedha sacrifices.
ततश्चाष्टगुणं पार्थ प्राप्स्यसे धर्ममुत्तमम् । दिलीपः पार्थ नृपतिर्यथापूर्वमवाप्तवान्
Then, O Pārtha, you will obtain eightfold supreme merit, just as King Dilīpa did in ancient times.
नेता च त्वमृषीन्यस्मात्तस्मात्तेष्टगुणं फलम् । रक्षोगणविकीर्णानि तीर्थान्येतानि भारत
And since you are the leader of the sages, you will receive eightfold the reward; these sacred places, O Bhārata, are scattered with hosts of Rākṣasas.
न गतिर्विद्यतेऽन्यस्य त्वामृते कुरुनंदन । इदं देवर्षिचरितं सर्वतीर्थानुसंश्रितम्
No one else but you, O joy of the Kurus, can attain this; this is the story of the gods and sages, connected with all the sacred places.
यः पठेत्कल्यमुत्थाय सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते । ऋषिमुख्याः सदा यत्र वाल्मीकिस्त्वथ कश्यपः
Whoever recites this, rising at dawn, is freed from all sins; where the foremost sages always reside—Vālmīki and also Kaśyapa,
आत्रेयस्त्वथ कौंडिन्यो विश्वामित्रोऽथ गौतमः । असितो देवलश्चैव मार्कंडेयोऽथ गालवः
Atri, Kauṇḍinya, Viśvāmitra, Gautama, Asita, Devala, Mārkaṇḍeya, and Gālava,
भरद्वाजस्य शिष्यश्च मुनिरुद्दालकस्तथा । शौनकः सह पुत्रेण व्यासश्च तपतां वरः
The sage Uddālaka, disciple of Bharadvāja, and also Śaunaka with his son, and Vyāsa, the best of ascetics,
दुर्वासाश्च मुनिश्रेष्ठो जाबालिश्च महातपाः । एते ऋषिवराः सर्वे त्वत्प्रतीक्ष्यास्तपोधनाः
And Durvāsas, the foremost sage, and Jābāli, great in austerity—all these eminent sages, rich in penance, are awaiting you.
एभिः सह महाभाग तीर्थान्येतान्यनुव्रज । प्राप्स्यसे महतीं कीर्तिं यथा राजा महाभिषः
Accompanied by these blessed ones, visit these sacred places; you will attain great fame, as did King Mahābhiṣa.
यथा ययातिर्धर्मात्मा यथा राजा पुरूरवाः । तथा त्वं कुरुशार्दूल स्वेन धर्मेण शोभसे
As the righteous King Yayāti and King Purūravas did, so too, O tiger among Kurus, will you shine by your own virtue.
यथा भगीरथो राजा यथा रामश्च विश्रुतः । यथा वै वृत्रहा सर्वान्सपत्नानदहत् पुरा
As King Bhagīratha and the renowned Rāma, and as Indra, slayer of Vṛtra, once destroyed all his rivals,
त्रैलोक्यं पालयामास देवराट्विगतज्वरः । तथा शत्रुक्षयं कृत्वा त्वं प्रजाः पालयिष्यसि
And ruled the three worlds, the king of the gods, free from distress—so too, after destroying your enemies, will you protect your people.
स्वधर्मेणार्जितामुर्वीं प्राप्य राजीवलोचन । ख्यातिं यास्यसि वीर्येण कार्त्तवीर्यार्जुनो यथा
Having gained the earth through your own righteous conduct, O lotus-eyed one, you will attain fame by your valor, as did Kārtavīryārjuna.
सूत उवाच- एवमाभाष्य राजानं नारदो भगवानृषिः । अनुज्ञाप्य महाराजं तत्रैवांतरधीयत
Sūta said: Having thus addressed the king, the venerable sage Nārada, after taking leave of the great king, vanished there itself.
युधिष्ठिरोऽपि धर्मात्मा ऋषिभिः सह सुव्रतः । जगामाखिलतीर्थानि सादरः पृथिवीपतिः
And Yudhiṣṭhira, righteous and steadfast, together with the sages, respectfully visited all the sacred places, O lord of the earth.
मयोक्तामृषयः सर्वे तीर्थयात्राश्रयां कथाम् । यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि स मुक्तः सर्वपातकैः
Whoever recites or hears this account of the pilgrimage to the sacred places, as narrated by me and the sages, is freed from all sins.
मयोक्तमखिलं तत्त्वं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छथ । ऋषीणां पुण्यकीर्तीनां नावक्तव्यं ममास्ति वै
All the truth I have spoken—what more do you wish to hear? There is nothing about the virtuous sages that I have left untold.
सूत उवाच- एवमुक्तानि तीर्थानि विष्णुदेहानि सुव्रताः । एषामन्यतमा संगान्मुक्तो भवति मानवः
Sūta said: Thus have the sacred places, which are forms of Viṣṇu, been described, O virtuous ones; by associating with any one of these, a person is liberated.
तीर्थानुश्रवणं धन्यं धन्यं तीर्थनिषेवणम् । पापराशिनिपाताय नान्योपायः कलौयुगे
Hearing about holy places is blessed, and visiting holy places is blessed; in the age of Kali, there is no other means for the destruction of heaps of sin.
वासं कुर्यामहं तीर्थे तीर्थस्पर्शमहं तथा । एवं योऽनुदिनं ब्रूते स याति परमं महत्
I should dwell at a holy place, and likewise touch a holy place; whoever says this every day attains the highest greatness.
पापानि तस्य नश्यंति तीर्थालापनमात्रतः । तीर्थानि खलु धन्यानि धन्यसेव्यानि सुव्रताः
His sins are destroyed merely by mentioning holy places; indeed, holy places are blessed and worthy of being served by the virtuous.
तीर्थानां सेवनादेव सेवितो भवति प्रभुः । नारायणो जगत्कर्ता नास्ति तीर्थात्परं पदम्
By serving holy places alone, the Lord is served—the creator of the world, Nārāyaṇa; there is no higher state than the holy place.
ब्राह्मणस्तुलसी चैव अश्वत्थस्तीर्थसंचयः । विष्णुश्च परमेशानः सेव्य एव सदा नृभिः
A brāhmaṇa, the tulasī plant, the aśvattha tree, and the collection of holy places, as well as Viṣṇu, the supreme Lord, are always to be served by people.
ब्राह्मणानां विशेषेण सेवनं मुनिपुंगवाः । सर्वतीर्थावगाहादेरधिकं विदुरग्रजाः
Especially, O best of sages, service to brāhmaṇas is known by the elders to be greater than bathing in all holy places.
तस्माद्द्विजपदं साक्षात्सर्वतीर्थमयं शुभम् । भजेतानुदिनं विद्वांस्तत्र तीर्थाधिकं भवेत्
Therefore, the wise should daily honor the feet of a twice-born as directly embodying all holy places; there, the merit of holy places is surpassed.
अश्वत्थस्य तुलस्याश्च गवां कुर्यात्प्रदक्षिणम् । सर्वतीर्थफलंप्राप्य विष्णुलोके महीयते
One should circumambulate the aśvattha tree, the tulasī plant, and cows; attaining the fruit of all holy places, one is honored in the world of Viṣṇu.
तस्माद्दुष्कृतकर्माणि नाशयेत्तीर्थसेवनात् । अन्यथा नरकं याति कर्म्मभोगाद्धि शाम्यति
Therefore, one should destroy evil deeds by serving holy places; otherwise, one goes to hell, for suffering is calmed only by experiencing the results of actions.
पापिनां नरके वासः सुकृती स्वर्गमश्नुते । तस्मात्पुण्यं निषेवेत तीर्थं खलु विचक्षणः
The wicked dwell in hell, the virtuous enjoy heaven; therefore, the wise should indeed serve holy places.
ऋषय ऊचुः- श्रुतानि किल तीर्थानि समाहात्म्यानि सुव्रत । इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामः प्रयागस्य विशेषकम्
The sages said: We have indeed heard of the holy places and their greatness, O virtuous one; now we wish to hear in detail about Prayāga.
प्रयागं तु पुरा प्रोक्तं संक्षेपात्सूत यत्त्वया । विशेषाच्छ्रोतुमिच्छामः सूत नः कथ्यतामिति
Prayāga was previously described by you in brief, O Sūta; we wish to hear in detail—please tell us, O Sūta.