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:
आख्याहि त्वरितो राजन्किमर्थं त्वरितं त्वया । केन वा विक्लवीभूतः कथयस्व ममाग्रतः
"Tell me quickly, O king, for what purpose you have called me in haste. Why are you so 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 stands firm. No sin is seen in battle for the wise who fight."
किं पुना राजधर्मेण क्षत्रियस्य विशेषतः । तदेवं हृदये कृत्वा तस्मात्पापं न चिंतयेत्
"How much more so for a kshatriya, especially in the duty of kingship! Bearing this in your heart, do not think of sin."
ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा प्रणम्य शिरसा मुनिम् । पृच्छामि त्वां मुनिश्रेष्ठ सदा त्रैकाल्यदर्शनम् । कथयस्व समासेन मुच्येऽहं येन किल्बिषात्
Then King Yudhishthira, bowing his head to the sage, said: I ask you, O best of sages, who sees all three times—tell me briefly by what means I may be freed from sin.
मार्कंडेय उवाच- शृणु राजन्महाभाग यन्मां पृच्छसि भारत । एवं सांख्यं च योगं च तीर्थं चैव युधिष्ठिर
Markandeya said: Hear, O fortunate king of the Bharatas, what you have asked me—about Sāṅkhya, Yoga, and the holy place, O Yudhishthira.
किं पुनर्ब्राह्मणैः पुण्यैः कीर्तितं वै पुरा विभो । प्रयागगमनं श्रेष्ठं नराणां पुण्यकर्मणाम्
What, then, is praised by the virtuous Brahmins of old? Among all meritorious acts, the journey to Prayaga is considered supreme for men.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- भगवञ्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि पुराकल्पे यथास्थितम् । कथं प्रयागगमनं नराणां तत्र कीदृशम्
Yudhishthira said: O blessed one, I wish to hear as it was in ancient times—how is the journey to Prayaga for men, and what is it like there?
मृतानां का गतिस्तत्र स्नातानां चैव किं फलम् । ये वसंति प्रयागे तु ब्रूहि तेषां च किं फलम् । एतन्मे सर्वमाख्याहि परं कौतूहलं हि मे
What is the fate of those who die there, and what is the fruit for those who bathe? Tell me also the result for those who dwell in Prayaga. Relate all this to me, for I am greatly curious.
मार्कंडेय उवाच- कथयिष्यामि ते वत्स नाथेष्टं यच्च यत्फलम् । पुरा ऋषीणां विप्राणां कथ्यमानं मया श्रुतम्
Markandeya said: I shall tell you, dear one, what is most desired and its fruit, as I once heard it recounted among the sages and Brahmins.
आप्रयागात्प्रतिष्ठानाद्धर्मकी वासुकी ह्रदात् । कंबलाश्वतरौ नागौ नागाश्च बहुमूलिकाः
From Prayaga to Pratishthana, from Dharmaki and Vasuki's pool, the serpents Kambala and Ashvatara, and many other great serpents dwell.
एतत्प्रजापतिक्षेत्रं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् । अत्र स्नात्वा दिवं यांति ये मृतास्तेऽपुनर्भवाः
This is the field of Prajapati, renowned in the three worlds. Those who bathe here ascend to heaven, and those who die here are not born again.
तत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवा रक्षां कुर्वंति संगताः । अन्ये च बहवस्तीर्थाः सर्वपापप्रणाशनाः
There, Brahma and the other gods gather to offer protection; and there are many other holy places that destroy all sins.
न शक्याः कथितुं राजन्बहुवर्षशतैरपि । संक्षेपेण प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रयागस्य च कीर्त्तनम्
O king, even in hundreds of years, it is not possible to recount them all. I shall briefly declare the glory of Prayaga.
षष्टिर्धनुः सहस्राणि परिरक्षंति जाह्नवीम् । यमुनां रक्षति सदा सविता सप्तवाहनः
Sixty thousand bows protect the Ganga, and the Sun, riding his seven steeds, always guards the Yamuna.
प्रयागं तु विशेषेण स्वयं रक्षति वासवः । मंडलं रक्षति हरिर्देवैः सह सुसंमतम्
Especially, Indra himself protects Prayaga, and Hari, together with the gods, guards the sacred precinct.
तं वटं रक्षते नित्यं शूलपाणिर्महेश्वरः । स्थानं रक्षति वै देवः सर्वपापहरं शुभम्
The Lord with the trident, Maheshvara, always protects that banyan tree; the god guards the auspicious place that removes all sins.
अधर्मेण वृतो लोके नैव गच्छति तत्पदम् । स्वल्पमल्पतरं पापं यदा तस्य नराधिप
One enveloped in unrighteousness in this world does not attain that state; but when even a little sin remains, O king,
प्रयागस्मरमाणस्य सर्वमायाति संक्षयम् । दर्शनात्तस्य तीर्थस्य नामसंकीर्तनादपि
For one who remembers Prayaga, all that is destroyed—by seeing that holy place or even by uttering its name.
मृत्तिका लभनाद्वापि नरः पापाद्विमुच्यते । पंचकुंडानि राजेंद्र येषां मध्ये तु जाह्नवी
Or by obtaining its sacred earth, a man is freed from sin. There are five pools, O king, among which flows the Ganga.