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.
सूत उवाच- साधु पृष्टं महाभागाः प्रयागं प्रति सुव्रताः । हंताहं तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रयागस्योपवर्णनम्
Sūta said: Well asked, O greatly fortunate and virtuous ones, regarding Prayāga; now I shall indeed describe the account of Prayāga.
मार्कंडेयेन कथितं यत्पुरा पांडुसूनवे । भारते तु यदा वृत्ते प्राप्तराज्ये पृथासुते
What was formerly told by Mārkaṇḍeya to the son of Pāṇḍu, when he had obtained the kingdom after the events in the Bhārata—
एतस्मिन्नंतरे राजा कुंतीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । भ्रातृशोकेन संतप्तः चिंतयंस्तु पुनः पुनः
Meanwhile, King Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Kuntī, afflicted with grief for his brothers, kept pondering again and again.
आसीद्दुर्योधनो राजा एकादशचमूपतिः । अस्मान्संतप्य बहुशः सर्वे ते निधनं गताः
Duryodhana was the king, commander of eleven armies; he tormented us greatly, and all of them have met their end.
वासुदेवं समाश्रित्य पंचशेषास्तु पांडवाः । कथं द्रोणं च भीष्मं च कर्णं चैव महाबलम्
Relying on Vāsudeva, the five Pāṇḍavas remained; how could we have slain Droṇa, Bhīṣma, and mighty Karṇa?
दुर्योधनं च राजानं भ्रातृपुत्रसमन्वितम् । राजानो निहताः सर्वे ये चान्ये शूरमानिनः
And King Duryodhana, together with his brothers and sons; all the kings have been slain, as well as others who considered themselves heroes.
विना राज्येन कर्तव्यं किं भोगैर्जीवितेनवा । धिक्कष्टमिति संचिंत्य राजा विह्वलतां गतः
Without a kingdom, what use are pleasures or even life itself? Thinking thus, 'Fie, how wretched!' the king became overwhelmed with distress.
निश्चेष्टोऽथ निरुत्साहः किं चित्तिष्ठत्यधोमुखः । लब्धसंज्ञो यदा राजा चिंतयानः पुनः पुनः
Then, motionless and dispirited, he sat with his head bowed; when the king regained his senses, he pondered again and again.
कं चरे विधिना योगं नियमं तीर्थमेव वा । येनाहं शीघ्रमामुच्ये महापातककिल्बिषात्
By what means—through discipline, yoga, or pilgrimage—can I quickly be freed from the great sin of terrible wrongdoing?
यत्र स्नात्वा नरो याति विष्णुलोकमनुत्तमम् । कथं पृच्छामि वै कृष्णं येनेदं कारितं महत्
Where, after bathing, does a man attain the supreme world of Vishnu? How shall I ask Krishna, by whom this great act was accomplished?
धृतराष्ट्रं कथं पृच्छे यस्य पुत्रशतं हतम् । व्यासं कथमहं पृच्छे यस्य गोत्रक्षयः कृतः
How can I question Dhritarashtra, whose hundred sons were slain? How can I ask Vyasa, whose lineage has been destroyed?
एवं वैक्लव्यमापन्नो धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । रुदंतः पांडवाः सर्वे भ्रातृशोकपरिप्लुताः
Thus, overcome by despair, Yudhishthira, son of Dharma, wept, and all the Pandavas, filled with grief for their brother, wept as well.
ये च तत्र महात्मानः समेताः पांडवाश्रिताः । कुंती च द्रौपदी चैव ये च तत्र समागताः
And those great souls gathered there, who had taken refuge with the Pandavas—Kunti, Draupadi, and all who were assembled—
भूमौ निपतिताः सर्वे रोदमानाः समंततः । वाराणस्यां तु मार्कंडस्तेन ज्ञातो युधिष्ठरः
All of them fell to the ground, weeping all around; and in Varanasi, Markandeya came to know of Yudhishthira's state.
यथाविक्लवमापन्नो रोदमानः सुदुःखितः । अचिरेणैव कालेन मार्कंडस्तु महातपाः
Seeing how he was overcome by despair, weeping and deeply afflicted, Markandeya, the great ascetic, soon set out.
हस्तिनापुर संप्राप्तो राजद्वारे स तिष्ठति । द्वारपालोऽपि तं दृष्ट्वा राज्ञः कथितवान्द्रुतम्
He arrived at Hastinapura and stood at the royal gate; the doorkeeper, seeing him, quickly informed the king.
त्वां द्रष्टुकामो मार्कंडो द्वारे तिष्ठत्यसौ मुनिः । त्वरितो धर्मपुत्रस्तु द्वारमेत्याह तत्परः
"Markandeya, the sage, stands at the gate, wishing to see you." The son of Dharma, eager, went swiftly to the door.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- स्वागतं ते महाप्राज्ञ स्वागतं ते महामुने । अद्य मे सफलं जन्म अद्य मे पावितं कुलम्
Yudhishthira said: "Welcome to you, great sage, welcome to you, O wise one! Today my birth is fruitful, today my lineage is purified."
अद्य मे पितरस्तृप्तास्त्वयि दृष्टे महामुने । सिंहासन उपस्थाप्य पादशौचार्चनादिभिः
"Today my ancestors are satisfied, having seen you, O great sage." He seated him upon a throne and performed the customary washing of feet and worship.
युधिष्ठिरो महात्मा वै पूजयामास तं मुनिम् । ततस्तमूचे मार्कण्डः पूजितोऽहं त्वया विभो
The great-souled Yudhishthira honored that sage; then Markandeya, having been worshipped, spoke to him: