Adhyaya 34

Verse 1

इति श्रीकूर्मपुराणे षट्साहस्त्र्यां संहितायां पूर्वविभागे त्रयस्त्रिशो ऽध्यायः ऋषय ऊचुः माहात्म्यमविमुक्तस्य यथावत् तदुदीरितम् / इदानीं तु प्रयागस्य माहात्म्यं ब्रूहि सुव्रत

Thus, in the Śrī Kūrma Purāṇa, in the six-thousand-verse Saṃhitā, in the Pūrva-bhāga, the thirty-third chapter concludes. The sages said: “The greatness of Avimukta has been rightly declared as it truly is. Now, O you of excellent vows, tell us the greatness of Prayāga.”

Verse 2

यानि तीर्थानि तत्रैव विश्रुतानि महान्ति वै / इदानीं कथयास्माकं सूत सर्वार्थविद् भवान्

O Sūta, you who know the purport of all matters—now tell us of those great sacred tīrthas that are renowned there.

Verse 3

सूत उवाच शृणुध्वमृषयः सर्वे विस्तरेण ब्रवीमि वः / प्रयागस्य च माहात्म्यं यत्र देवः पितामहः

Sūta said: “Listen, all you sages. I shall explain to you in detail the greatness of Prayāga, the sacred place where the divine Grandsire (Brahmā) is present.”

Verse 4

मार्कण्डेयेन कथितं कौन्तेयाय महात्मने / यथा युधिष्ठिरायैतत् तद्वक्ष्ये भवतामहम्

Just as this was told by Mārkaṇḍeya to the great-souled son of Kuntī—Yudhiṣṭhira—so too shall I recount it to you all.

Verse 5

निहत्य कौरवान सर्वान् भ्रातृभिः सह पार्थिवः / शोकेन महाताविष्टा मुमोह स युधिष्ठिरः

Having slain all the Kauravas together with his brothers, that king Yudhiṣṭhira, overwhelmed by immense sorrow, fell into a state of delusion and faintness.

Verse 6

अचिरेणाथ कालेन मार्कण्डेयो महातपाः / संप्राप्तो हास्तिनपुरं राजद्वारे स तिष्ठति

Before long, the great ascetic Mārkaṇḍeya arrived at Hastināpura, and he stood waiting at the king’s gate.

Verse 7

द्वारपालो ऽपि तं दृष्ट्वा राज्ञः कथितवान् द्रुतम् / मार्कण्डेयो द्रष्टुमिच्छंस्त्वामास्ते द्वार्यसौ मुनिः

Seeing him, the gatekeeper quickly informed the king: “The sage Mārkaṇḍeya, wishing to see you, is waiting here at the gate.”

Verse 8

त्वरितो धर्मपुत्रस्तु द्वारमेत्याह तत्परम् / स्वागतं ते महाप्राज्ञ स्वागतं ते महामुने

Then Dharmaputra hurried to the gate and, with full attentiveness, said: “Welcome to you, O greatly wise one; welcome to you, O great sage.”

Verse 9

अद्य मे सफलं जन्म अद्य मे तारितं कुलम् / अद्य मे पितरस्तुष्टास्त्वयि तुष्टे महामुने

Today my birth has borne fruit; today my lineage has been delivered. Today my ancestors are satisfied—O great muni—because you are pleased.

Verse 10

सिंहासनमुपस्थाप्य पादशौचार्चनादिभिः / युधिष्ठिरो महात्मेति पूजयामास तं मुनिम्

Having set out a royal seat and, beginning with the washing and worship of the muni’s feet and other rites of honour, Yudhiṣṭhira revered that sage, praising him as a great-souled one.

Verse 11

मार्कण्डेयस्ततस्तुष्टः प्रोवाच स युधिष्ठिरम् / किमर्थं मुह्यसे विद्वन् सर्वं ज्ञात्वाहमागतः

Then Mārkaṇḍeya, being pleased, spoke to Yudhiṣṭhira: “O learned one, why are you bewildered? I have come here knowing everything.”

Verse 12

ततो युधिष्ठिरो राजा प्रणम्याह महामुनिम् / कथय त्वं समासेन येन मुच्येत किल्बिषैः

Then King Yudhiṣṭhira, having bowed down, addressed the great muni: “Tell me briefly that by which one may be freed from sins.”

Verse 13

निहता वहवो युद्धे पुंसो निरपराधिनः / अस्माभिः कौरवैः सार्धं प्रसङ्गान्मुनिपुङ्गव

O foremost of sages, many innocent men have been slain in battle—through mere entanglement in circumstances—together with us Kauravas.

Verse 14

येन हिंसासमुद्भूताज्जन्मान्तरकृतादपि / मुच्यते पातकादस्मात् तद् भवान् वक्तुमर्हति

Pray explain the means by which one is freed from this sin born of violence—even if that violence was committed in another birth.

Verse 15

मार्कण्डेय उवाच शृणु राजन् महाभाग यन्मां पृच्छसि भारत् / प्रयागगमनं श्रेष्ठं नराणां पापनाशनम्

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Listen, O king—O greatly fortunate descendant of Bharata—to what you ask of me. Pilgrimage to Prayāga is supreme for humankind, for it destroys sin.

Verse 16

तत्र देवो महादेवो रुद्रो विश्वामरेश्वरः / समास्ते भगवान् ब्रह्मा स्वयंभूरपि दैवदैः

There, Mahādeva—Rudra, Lord of the universe and of the immortals—presides; and there too sits the Blessed Brahmā, the Self-born, together with the deities.

Verse 17

युधिष्ठिर उवाच भगवञ्च्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि प्रयागगमने फलम् / मृतानां का गतिस्तत्र स्नातानामपि किं फलम्

Yudhiṣṭhira said: “O Blessed Lord, I wish to hear the merit of going to Prayāga. What destiny awaits those who die there, and what fruit is gained even by those who merely bathe there?”

Verse 18

ये वसन्ति प्रयागे तु ब्रूहि तेषां तु किं फलम् / भवता विदितं ह्येतत् तन्मे ब्रूहि नमो ऽस्तु ते

Tell me, too, what fruit is gained by those who dwell at Prayāga. Since this is truly known to you, explain it to me—obeisance to you.

Verse 19

मार्कण्डेय उवाच कथयिष्यामि ते वत्स या चेष्टा यच्च तत्फलम् / पुरा महर्षिभिः सम्यक् कथ्यमानं मया श्रुतम्

Mārkaṇḍeya said: “Dear child, I shall tell you what conduct should be undertaken and what fruit arises from it—just as I once heard it, rightly expounded by the great seers.”

Verse 20

एतत् प्रजापतिक्षेत्रं त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुतम् / अत्र स्नात्वा दिवं यान्ति ये मृतास्ते ऽपुनर्भवाः

This sacred realm of Prajāpati is renowned throughout the three worlds. Those who die here, having bathed in this place, ascend to heaven and do not return again to rebirth.

Verse 21

तत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवा रक्षां कुर्वन्ति संगताः / बहून्यन्यानि तीर्थानि सर्वपापापहानि तु

There, the gods—headed by Brahmā—assemble together and keep watch in protection. And there are many other sacred fords (tīrthas) as well, which indeed remove all sins.

Verse 22

कथितुं नेह शक्नोमि बहुवर्षशतैरपि / संक्षेपेण प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रयागस्येह कीर्तनम्

I am not able to describe it here even in hundreds of years; therefore, I shall recount—briefly—the sacred praise and account of Prayāga.

Verse 23

षष्टिर्धनुः सहस्त्राणि यानि रक्षन्ति जाह्नवीम् / यमुनां रक्षति सदा सविता सप्तवाहनः

Sixty thousand celestial archers stand guard over the river Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā). And the Sun-god Savitṛ—riding his seven-horsed chariot—ever protects the Yamunā.

Verse 24

प्रयागे तु विशेषेण स्वयं वसति वासवः / मण्डलं रक्षति हरिः सर्वदेवैश्च सम्मितम्

At Prayāga in particular, Vāsava (Indra) himself abides there; and Hari (Viṣṇu) protects that sacred mandala, upheld and sanctioned by all the gods.

Verse 25

न्यग्रोधं रक्षते नित्यं शूलपाणिर्महेश्वरः / स्थानं रक्षन्ति वै देवाः सर्वपापहरं शुभम्

Maheshvara, the Trident-bearer, ever protects the Nyagrodha (banyan tree). Indeed, the gods safeguard that sacred place—auspicious and able to remove all sins.

Verse 26

स्वकर्मणावृतो लोको नैव गच्छति तत्पदम् / स्वल्पं स्वल्पतरं पापं यदा तस्य नराधिप / प्रयागं स्मरमाणस्य सर्वमायाति संक्षयम्

The world, veiled by one’s own karma, does not reach that supreme abode. Yet, O king, even if the smallest and subtlest sin still clings, for one who remembers Prayāga, all of it is utterly destroyed.

Verse 27

दर्शनात् तस्य तीर्थस्य नाम संकीर्तनादपि / मुत्तिकालम्भनाद् वापि नरः पापात् प्रमुच्यते

By merely beholding that sacred tirtha, by chanting its name, or even by touching and applying its holy earth, a person is released from sin.

Verse 28

पञ्च कुण्डानि राजेन्द्र येषां मध्ये तु जाह्नवी / प्रयागं विशतः पुंसः पापं नश्यति तत्क्षणात्

O best of kings, there are five sacred kundas, with the river Jāhnavī (Gaṅgā) flowing in their midst. For one who enters Prayāga, sin is destroyed at that very moment.

Verse 29

योजनानां सहस्त्रेषु गङ्गां यः स्मरते नरः / अपि दुष्कृतकर्मासौ लभते परमां गतिम्

Even from thousands of yojanas away, the man who remembers the holy Gaṅgā—though burdened with sinful deeds—attains the supreme destination.

Verse 30

कीर्तनान्मुच्यते पापाद् दृष्ट्वा भद्राणि पश्यति / तथोपस्पृश्य राजेन्द्र स्वर्गलोके महीयते

By kīrtana, devotional recitation, one is freed from sin; by beholding, one comes to see auspiciousness. Likewise, O best of kings, having purified oneself by touching sacred water (upaspṛśya), one is honored in the world of heaven.

Verse 31

व्याधितो यदि वा दीनः क्रूद्धो वापि भवेन्नरः / गङ्गायमुनमासाद्य त्यजेत् प्राणान् प्रयत्नतः

Whether a man is afflicted by disease, sunk in misery, or overcome by anger—having reached the Gaṅgā–Yamunā confluence, he should, with deliberate resolve, relinquish his life-breath there.

Verse 32

दीप्तकाञ्चनवर्णाभैर्विमानैर्भानुवर्णिभिः / ईप्सितांल्लभते कामान् वदन्ति मुनिपुङ्गवाः

In radiant, sun-bright aerial chariots gleaming like burnished gold, one attains the desired enjoyments—so declare the foremost of sages.

Verse 33

सर्वरत्नमयैर्दिव्यैर्नानाध्वजसमाकुलैः / वराङ्गनासमाकीर्णैर्मोदते शुभलक्षणः

Surrounded by divine structures fashioned of every kind of jewel, crowded with many banners, and thronged with noble women, that auspiciously marked one rejoices.

Verse 34

गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषैः प्रसुप्तः प्रतिबुध्यते / यावन्न स्मरते जन्म तापत् स्वर्गे महीयते

Awakened from sleep by the resounding clamor of song and instruments, he is glorified in heaven only so long as he does not recall his former birth; but the moment that memory arises, he is scorched by distress and his heavenly delight fades.

Verse 35

तस्मात् स्वर्गात् परिभ्रष्टः क्षीणकर्मा नरोत्तम / हिरण्यरत्नसंपूर्णे समृद्धे जायते कुले

Therefore, when his merit is spent, that best of men falls away from heaven and is born again in a prosperous lineage, abundant in gold and jewels.

Verse 36

तदेव स्मरते तीर्थं स्मरणात् तत्र गच्छति / देशस्थो यदि वारण्ये विदेशे यदि वा गृहे

By remembering that very sacred ford (tīrtha), through remembrance itself one attains the state of “going there”—whether in one’s own land, in the wilderness, in a foreign country, or even at home.

Verse 37

प्रयागं स्मरमाणस्तु यस्तु प्राणान् परित्यजेत् / ब्रह्मलोकमवाप्नोति वदन्ति मुनिपुङ्गवाः

The foremost sages declare that whoever departs from life while remembering Prayāga attains Brahmaloka.

Verse 38

सर्वकामफला वृक्षा मही यत्र हिरण्मयी / ऋषयो मुनयः सिद्धास्तत्र लोके स गच्छति

He attains that world where trees bear the fruits of every desire and the very earth is golden; there dwell ṛṣis, munis, and perfected siddhas—to that realm he goes.

Verse 39

स्त्रीसहस्त्राकुले रम्ये मन्दाकिन्यास्तटे शुभे / मोदते मुनिभिः सार्धं स्वकृतेनेह कर्मणा

In that lovely, auspicious region on the bank of the Mandākinī—thronged with thousands of women—he rejoices together with the sages, as the fruit of the deeds he himself performed here.

Verse 40

सिद्धचारणगन्धर्वैः पूज्यते दिवि दैवतैः / ततः स्वर्गात् परिभ्रष्टो जम्बुद्वीपपतिर्भवेत्

In heaven he is honored by the Siddhas, Cāraṇas, and Gandharvas, and worshipped by the gods themselves. Then, when his heavenly merit is spent and he falls from Svarga, he is born as the sovereign lord of Jambūdvīpa.

Verse 41

ततः शुभानि कर्माणि चिन्तयानः पुनः पुनः / गुणवान् वित्तसंपन्नो भवतीह न संशयः / कर्मणा मनसा वाचा सत्यधर्मप्रतिष्ठितः

Therefore, one who repeatedly contemplates auspicious deeds becomes, in this very world, endowed with virtues and prosperity—of this there is no doubt—being established in truth and dharma through action, mind, and speech.

Verse 42

गङ्गायमुनयोर्मध्ये यस्तु ग्रामं प्रतीच्छति / सुवर्णमथ मुक्तां वा तथैवान्यान् प्रतिग्रहान्

But whoever, in the tract between the Gaṅgā and the Yamunā, accepts a village as a gift—whether gold, pearls, or other donations as well—incurs grave fault, for such receiving is condemned in that sacred region.

Verse 43

स्वकार्ये पितृकार्ये वा देवताभ्यर्चने ऽपि वा / निष्फलं तस्य तत् तीर्थं यावत् तत्फलमश्नुते

Whether for one’s own purpose, for ancestral rites, or even for the worship of the deities—until its promised result is actually obtained—that sacred ford (tīrtha) remains, for that person, as though fruitless.

Verse 44

अतस्तीर्थे न गृह्णीयात् पुण्येष्वायतनेषु च / निमित्तेषु च सर्वेषु अप्रमत्तो द्विजो भवेत्

Therefore, a dvija (twice-born) should not accept improper gifts or gains at a tīrtha, nor within holy sanctuaries; and on every sacred occasion as well, the dvija should remain vigilant, never careless regarding purity and right conduct.

Verse 45

कपिलां पाटलावर्णां यस्तु धेनुं प्रयच्छति / स्वर्णशृङ्गीं रौप्यखुरां चैलकण्ठां पयस्विनीम्

Whoever gifts a milch-cow—tawny, with a rosy hue—adorned with golden horns and silver hooves, with a cloth tied about her neck, and rich in milk, obtains great merit.

Verse 46

यावद् रोमाणि तस्या वै सन्ति गात्रेषु सत्तम / तावद् वर्षसहस्त्राणि रुद्रलोके महीयते

O best of men, for as many hairs as she has upon her limbs, for that many thousands of years he is honored and exalted in Rudra’s world (Rudra-loka).