प्रयागे तु प्रविष्टस्य पापं क्षरति तत्क्षणात् । योजनानां सहस्रेषु गंगां स्मरति यो नरः
For one who enters Prayaga, sin is washed away at that very moment. Even at a thousand yojanas' distance, whoever remembers the Ganga—
अपि दुष्कृतकर्मासौ लभते परमां गतिम् । कीर्तनान्मुच्यते पापैर्दृष्ट्वा भद्राणि पश्यति
Even if he has committed evil deeds, he attains the highest state; by praising her, he is freed from sins, and by seeing her, he beholds auspicious things.
अवगाह्य च पीत्वा च पुनात्यासप्तमं कुलम् । सत्यवादी जितक्रोधो अहिंसां परमास्थितः
By bathing and drinking there, he purifies up to the seventh generation of his family; one who speaks truth, has conquered anger, and is firmly established in non-violence.
धर्मानुसारी तत्त्वज्ञो गोब्राह्मणहिते रतः । गंगायमुनयोर्मध्ये स्नातो मुच्येत किल्बिषात्
Following righteousness, knowing reality, devoted to the welfare of cows and Brahmins—one who bathes between the Ganga and Yamuna is freed from sin.
मनसा चिंतितान्कामान्सम्यक्प्राप्नोति पुष्कलान् । ततो गत्त्वा प्रयागं तु सर्वदेवाभिरक्षितम्
He attains, in full measure, the desires contemplated in his mind; then, going to Prayaga, protected by all the gods—
ब्रह्मचारी वसेन्मासं पितृदेवांश्च तर्पयेत् । ईप्सिताँल्लभते कामान्यत्र तत्राभिजायते
If he lives there as a celibate for a month and offers satisfaction to the ancestors and gods, he obtains the desired objects and is born there or elsewhere.
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, where the great and blessed 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 sacred 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: Listen, O king, again to the greatness of Prayaga; by going there, 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
One who, reaching the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna, gives up his life, ascends to a radiant, golden-hued celestial vehicle, shining like the sun.
गंधर्वाप्सरसां मध्ये स्वर्गे मोदति मानवः । ईप्सिताँल्लभतेकामान्वदंति ऋषिपुंगवाः
In heaven, among Gandharvas and Apsaras, the man rejoices; he attains the desired objects, so say the foremost of sages.
सर्वरत्नमयैर्दिव्यैर्नानाध्वजसमाकुलैः । वरांगना समाकीर्णैर्मोदते शुभलक्षणैः
He delights in celestial vehicles made of all kinds of jewels, adorned with various banners, surrounded by excellent women with auspicious marks.
गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषैः प्रसुप्तः प्रतिबुध्यते । यावन्न स्मरते जन्म तावत्स्वर्गे महीयते
Awakened by the sounds of singing and musical instruments, he is honored in heaven as long as he does not remember his birth.
तत्र स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टः क्षीणकर्म्मा दिवश्च्युतः । हिरण्यरत्नसंपूर्णे समृद्धे जायते कुले
There, having fallen from heaven when his merit is exhausted, he is born in a prosperous family filled with gold and jewels.
तदेव स्मरते तीर्थं स्मरणात्तत्र गच्छति । देशस्थो यदि वारण्ये विदेशे यदि वा गृहे
He remembers that very sacred place, and by remembering it, he goes there—whether he is in his own land, in the forest, in another country, or at home.
प्रयागं स्मरमात्रोपि यस्तु प्राणान्परित्यजेत् । स ब्रह्मलोकमाप्नोति वदंति ऋषिपुंगवाः
Even one who merely remembers Prayaga at the time of death attains the world of Brahma, so say the foremost of sages.
सर्वकामफलावृत्ता मही यत्र हिरण्मयी । ऋषयो मुनयः सिद्धा यत्र लोके प्रगच्छति
There, the earth is covered with all desired fruits and is golden; there, sages, ascetics, and perfected beings go to that world.
स्त्रीसहस्रा कुले रम्ये मंदाकिन्यास्तटे शुभे । मोदते ऋषिभिः सार्द्धं स्वकृतेनेह कर्मणा
In a beautiful family, on the auspicious bank of the Mandakini, he delights with thousands of women, together with sages, as a result of his deeds here.
सिद्धचारणगन्धर्वैः पूज्यते दिवि दैवतैः । ततः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टो जंबुद्वीपपतिर्भवेत्
He is honored in heaven by Siddhas, Caranas, Gandharvas, and the gods; then, having fallen from heaven, he becomes the lord of Jambudvipa.
ततः शुभानि कर्माणि चिंतयानः पुनः पुनः । गुणवान्वित्तसंपन्नो भवतीह न संशयः
Then, constantly reflecting on virtuous deeds, he becomes endowed with qualities and abundant wealth here—of this there is no doubt.
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा सत्यधर्मप्रतिष्ठितः । गंगायमुनयोर्मध्ये यस्तु दानं प्रयच्छति
Established in truth and righteousness by deed, mind, and word, whoever gives gifts between the Ganga and Yamuna—
सुवर्णंमणिमुक्तां वा यदि धान्यं प्रतिग्रहम् । स्वकार्ये पितृकार्ये वा देवताभ्यर्चनेऽपि वा
—whether it be gold, jewels, pearls, or grain, for his own purpose, for ancestral rites, or even in worship of the gods—
निष्फलं तस्य तत्तीर्थं यावत्तत्फलमश्नुते । एवं तीर्थेन गृह्णीयात् पुण्येष्वायतनेषु च
—for him, that holy place is fruitless until he attains the result; thus one should give at a sacred ford and in holy shrines.
निमित्तेषु च सर्वेषु अप्रमत्तो द्विजो भवेत् । कपिलां पाटलावर्णां प्रयागे यः प्रयच्छति
In all such occasions, a twice-born should be ever vigilant; whoever gives a Kapila cow with reddish hue at Prayaga—
स्वर्णशृंगीं रौप्यखुरां चैलकंठीं पयस्विनीम् । प्रयागे श्रोत्रियं साधुं ग्राहयित्वा यथाविधि
—with golden horns, silver hooves, a cloth around her neck, and yielding milk, having properly caused a learned and virtuous Brahmin at Prayaga to accept her—
शुक्लांबरधरं शांतं धर्मज्ञं वेदपारगम् । सा गौस्तस्मै च दातव्या गंगायमुनसंगमे
—one who is calm, clad in white garments, knower of dharma, and accomplished in the Vedas—such a cow should be given to him at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna.
वासांसि च महार्हाणि रत्नानि विविधानि च । यावद्रोमाणि तस्या गोः संति गात्रेषु सत्तम
And also splendid garments and various kinds of jewels, as many as there are hairs on the body of that cow, O best of men.