प्रयागे माघमासे तु त्र्यहंस्नानस्य तत्फलम् । गंगायमुनयोर्मध्ये पंचाग्निं यस्तु साधयेत्
At Prayaga, in the month of Magha, the fruit of bathing for three days is as follows: whoever performs the five-fire rite between the Ganga and Yamuna—
अहीनांगो ह्यरोगश्च पंचेन्द्रियसमन्वितः । यावंति रोमकूपाणि तस्य गात्रस्य देहिनः
He becomes free from defects and disease, endowed with all five senses; as many hair follicles as are on his body—
तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोके महीयते । ततः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टो जंबूद्वीपपतिर्भवेत्
For that many thousands of years, he is honored in heaven; then, fallen from heaven, he becomes a lord of Jambudvipa.
स भुक्त्वा विपुलान्भोगांस्तत्तीर्थं भजते नरः । जलप्रवेशं यः कुर्यात्संगमे लोकविश्रुते
Having enjoyed great pleasures, the man worships that sacred place; whoever enters the water at the renowned confluence—
राहुग्रस्तो यथा सोमो विमुक्तः सर्वपातकैः । सोमलोकमवाप्नोति सोमेन सह मोदते
Just as the moon, seized by Rahu, is released from all stains, so he attains the world of Soma and delights there with Soma.
षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि षष्टिवर्षशतानि च । स्वर्गलोकमवाप्नोति ऋषिगंधर्वसेवितः
For sixty thousand and sixty hundred years, he attains the world of heaven, attended by sages and gandharvas.
परिभ्रष्टस्तु राजेंद्र समृद्धे जायते कुले । अधःशिरास्तु यो ज्वालामूर्ध्वपादः पिबेन्नरः
But when he falls, O King, he is born in a prosperous family; one who drinks with his head downward, feet upward, in fire—
शतं वर्षसहस्राणि स्वर्गलोके महीयते । परिभ्रष्टस्तु राजेंद्र अग्निहोत्री भवेन्नरः
For a hundred thousand years, he is honored in heaven; but when he falls, O King, he becomes a performer of the Agnihotra sacrifice.
भुक्त्वा तु विपुलान्भोगांस्तत्तीर्थं भजते नरः । यस्तु देहं विकर्तित्वा शकुनिभ्यः प्रयच्छति
Having enjoyed great pleasures, the man worships that sacred place; but one who, after cutting his body, gives it to the birds—
विहंगैरुपभुक्तस्य शृणु तस्यापि यत्फलम् । शतं वर्षसहस्राणां सोमलोके महीयते
Hear also the fruit for one whose body is consumed by birds: for a hundred thousand years, he is honored in the world of Soma.
ततः स्वर्गात्परिभ्रष्टो राजा भवति धार्मिकः । गुणवान्रूपसंपन्नो विद्वान्सुप्रियदेहवान्
Then, having fallen from heaven, the king is born as a righteous man, endowed with virtues, possessing beauty and knowledge, and blessed with a most pleasing form.
भुक्त्वा तु विपुलान्भोगांस्तत्तीर्थं भजते पुनः । यामुने चोत्तरे कूले प्रयागस्य तु दक्षिणे
After enjoying abundant pleasures, he again attains that sacred place, on the northern bank of the Yamuna and the southern side of Prayaga.
ऋणप्रमोचनं नाम तीर्थं तत्परमं स्मृतम् । एकरात्रोषितो भूत्वा ऋणैः सर्वैः प्रमुच्यते
That holy place is known as the supreme 'Liberation from Debt'; by staying there for a single night, one is freed from all debts.
सूर्यलोकमवाप्नोति अनृणी च सदा भवेत्
He attains the world of the Sun and remains forever free from debt.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडे प्रयागमाहात्म्ये चतुश्चत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the forty-fourth chapter in the section on the greatness of Prayaga, in the Svarga-khanda of the glorious Padma Mahapurana.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- एतच्छ्रुत्वा प्रयागस्य यत्त्वया कीर्तनं कृतम् । विशुद्धमेतद्धृदयं प्रयागस्य च कीर्तनात् । अनाशकफलं ब्रूहि भगवंस्तत्र कीदृशम्
Yudhishthira said: Having heard your praise of Prayaga, my heart is purified by its glorification. O Lord, tell me what is the fruit for one who fasts there, and what kind of result is obtained?
मार्कंडेय उवाच- शृणु राजन्प्रयागे तु अनाशकफलं विभो । प्राप्नोति पुरुषो धीमान्श्रद्दधानश्च यादृशम्
Markandeya said: Hear, O King, the fruit of fasting at Prayaga. A wise and faithful person attains the result as follows.
अहीनांगो विरोगश्च पंचेंद्रियसमन्वितः । अश्वमेधफलं तस्य गच्छतस्तु पदे पदे
He becomes free from defects, without disease, endowed with all five senses; at every step, he gains the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice.
कुलानि तारयेद्राजन्दशपूर्वान्दशापरान् । मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यो गच्छेत परमं पदम्
O King, he uplifts ten generations before and after him; he is freed from all sins and attains the supreme state.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- महाभागोसि धर्मज्ञ दानं वदसि मे प्रभो । अल्पेनैव प्रधानेन बहून्धर्मानवाप्नुयात्
Yudhishthira said: You are greatly fortunate and knower of dharma. Tell me, O Lord, how by a small or simple gift one may obtain many virtues.
अश्वमेधस्तु बहुभिः सुकृतैः प्राप्यते इह । एतन्मे संशयं ब्रूहि परं कौतूहलं हि मे
The Ashvamedha is attained here only through many good deeds. Tell me this doubt of mine, for I have great curiosity.
मार्कंडेय उवाच- शृणु राजन्महावीर युदुक्तं पद्मयोनिना । ऋषीणां सन्निधौ पूर्वं कथ्यमानं मया श्रुतम्
Markandeya said: Hear, O King, O mighty one, what was spoken by the Lotus-born in the presence of the sages, which I have heard before.
पंचयोजनविस्तीर्णं प्रयागस्य तु मंडलम् । प्रविशंस्तस्य तद्भूमावश्वमेधं पदे पदे
The region of Prayaga extends five yojanas; by entering that land, at every step, one gains the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice.
व्यतीतान्पुरुषान्सप्त भविष्यांश्च चतुर्दश । नरस्तारयते सर्वान्यस्तु प्राणान्परित्यजेत्
A man who gives up his life there saves all his ancestors—seven past and fourteen future generations.
एवं ज्ञात्वा तु राजेंद्र सदा श्रद्धापरो भवेत् । अश्रद्दधानाः पुरुषाः पापोपहतचेतसः । न प्राप्नुवंति तत्स्थानं प्रयागं देवनिर्मितम्
Knowing this, O king, one should always be devoted with faith; those without faith, whose minds are afflicted by sin, do not attain that place—Prayaga, created by the gods.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- स्नेहाद्वा द्रव्यलोभाद्वा ये तु कामवशं गताः । कथं तीर्थफलं तेषां कथं पुण्यमवाप्नुयुः
Yudhishthira said: Whether out of affection or greed for wealth, or driven by desire, how do such people obtain the fruit of the holy place, and how do they gain merit?
विक्रयं सर्वभांडानां कार्याकार्यमजानतः । प्रयागे का गतिस्तस्य एवं ब्रूहि महामुने
If someone, ignorant of what should or should not be done, sells all his goods at Prayaga, what is his fate? Tell me this, O great sage.
मार्कंडेय उवाच- शृणु राजन्महागुह्यं सर्वपापप्रणाशनम् । मासं वसंस्तु राजेंद्र प्रयागे नियतेंद्रियः
Markandeya said: Hear, O king, the great secret that destroys all sins: if one dwells at Prayaga for a month with controlled senses—
मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यः यथादिष्टं स्वयंभुवा । शुचिस्तु प्रयतो भूत्वाऽहिंसकः श्रद्धयान्वितः
One is freed from all sins, as declared by the Self-born; being pure, self-controlled, non-violent, and endowed with faith.
मुच्यते सर्वपापेभ्यः स गच्छेत्परमं पदम् । विश्रंभघातकानां तु प्रयागे शृणु तत्फलम्
He is freed from all sins and attains the supreme state; now hear the result for those who betray trust at Prayaga.