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Svarga-khaṇḍa · Chapter 39

Chapter 39

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Svarga-khaṇḍa · Chapter 39

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नारद उवाच- अथ संध्यां समासाद्य स विद्यांतीर्थमुत्तमम् । उपस्पृश्य नरो विद्वान्भवेन्नास्त्यत्र संशयः १। रामस्य च प्रसादेन तीर्थराजं कृतं पुरा । तल्लौहित्यं समासाद्य विंद्याद्बहुसुवर्णकम् २। करतोयां समासाद्य त्रिरात्रोपोषितो नरः । अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति शक्रलोकं च गच्छति ३। गंगायास्त्वथ राजेंद्र सागरस्य च संगमे । अश्वमेधं दशगुणं प्रवदंति मनीषणः ४। गंगायास्तु परं द्वीपं प्राप्य यः स्नाति भारत । त्रिरात्रोपोषितो राजन्सर्वकाममवाप्नुयात् ५। ततो वैतरणीं गत्वा नदीं पापप्रमोचनीम् । विरजं तीर्थमासाद्य विराजति यथा शशी ६। प्रभावे च कुलं पूत्वा सर्वपापं व्यपोहति । गोसहस्रफलं लब्ध्वा पुनाति स्वकुलं नरः ७। शोणस्य ज्योतिरथ्याश्च संगमे निवसञ्छुचिः । तर्पयित्वा पितॄन्देवानग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत् ८। शोणस्य नर्मदायाश्च प्रभवे कुरुपुंगव । वंशगुल्ममुपस्पृश्य वाजिमेधफलं लभेत् ९। ऋषभं तीर्थमासाद्य कोशलायां नराधिप । वाजिमेधमवाप्नोति त्रिरात्रोपोषितो नरः १०। कोशलायां समासाद्य कालतीर्थमुपस्पृशेत् । वृषभैकादशगुणं लभते नात्र संशयः ११। पुष्पवत्यामुपस्पृश्य त्रिरात्रोपोषितो नरः । गोसहस्रफलं विंद्यात्कुलं चैव समुद्धरेत् १२। ततो बदारिकातीर्थे स्नात्वा प्रयतमानसः । दीर्घायुष्यमवाप्नोति स्वर्गलोकं च गच्छति १३। ततो महेंद्रमासाद्य जामदग्न्यनिषेवितम् । रामतीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा वाजिमेधफलं लभेत् १४। मतंगस्य तु केदारं तत्रैव भरतर्षभ । तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन्गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् १५। श्रीपर्वतं समासाद्य नदीतीरमुपस्पृशेत् । अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति परां सिद्धिं च गच्छति १६। श्रीपर्वते महादेवो देव्या सह महाद्युतिः । न्यवसत्परमप्रीतो ब्रह्मा च त्रिदशैर्वृतः १७। तत्र देवह्रदे स्नात्वा शुचिः प्रयतमानसः । अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति परां सिद्धिं च गच्छति १८। ऋषभं पर्वतं गत्वा भांडेषु सुरपूजितम् । वाजपेयमवाप्नोति नाकपृष्ठे च मोदते १९। ततो गच्छेत कावेरीं वृतामृप्सरसां गणैः । तत्र स्नात्वा नरो राजन्गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् २०। तत्र तीर्थे समुद्रस्य कन्यातीर्थमुपस्पृशेत् । तत्रोपस्पृश्य राजेंद्र सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते २१। अथ गोकमर्णमासाद्य त्रिषुलोकेषु विश्रुतम् । समुद्रमध्ये राजेंद्र सर्वलोकनमस्कृतम् २२। यत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवा मुनयश्च तपोधनाः । भूतयक्षाः पिशाचाश्च किन्नराः समहोरगाः २३। सिद्धचारणगंधर्वा मानुषाः पन्नगास्तथा । सरितः सागराः शैला उपासंते उमापतिम् २४। तत्रेशानं समभ्यर्च्य त्रिरात्रोपोषितो नरः । दशाश्वमेधमाप्नोति गाणपत्यं च विंदति २५। उपोष्य द्वादशरात्रं कृतार्थो जायते नरः । तस्मिन्नेव तु गायत्र्याः स्थानं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम् २६। त्रिरात्रमुषितस्तत्र गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । निदर्शनं च प्रत्यक्षं ब्राह्मणानां नराधिप २७। गायत्रीं पठते यस्तु योनिसंकरजो द्विजः । गाथा वा गीतिका वाणी तस्य संपद्यते नृप २८। अब्राह्मणस्य पठतः सावित्री तूपनश्यति । संवर्तस्य तु विप्रर्षे वापीमासाद्य दुर्ल्लभाम् २९। रूपस्य भागी भवति सुभगश्चाभिजायते । ततो वेणां समासाद्य तर्पयेत्पितृदेवताः ३०। मयूरहंससंयुक्तं विमानं लभते नरः । ततो गोदावरीं प्राप्य नित्यसिद्धनिषेविताम् ३१। गवामयमवाप्नोति वायुलोकं च गच्छति । वेणायाः संगमे स्नात्वा वाजपेयफलं लभेत् ३२। वरदासंगमं स्नात्वा गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । ब्रह्मस्थूणां समासाद्य त्रिरात्रोपोषितो नरः ३३। गोसहस्रफलं विंद्यात्स्वर्गलोकं च गच्छति । कुब्जावनं समासाद्य ब्रह्मचारी समाहितः ३४। त्रिरात्रोपोषितः स्नात्वा गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । ततो देवह्रदे स्नात्वा कृष्णवेणा जलोद्भवे ३५। ज्योतिर्मात्र ह्रदे चैव तथा कन्याश्रमे नृप । यत्र क्रतुशतैरिष्ट्वा देवराजो दिवं गतः ३६। अग्निष्टोमशतं विंद्याद्गमनादेव तत्र तु । सर्वदेवह्रदे स्नात्वा गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् ३७। जातिमात्र ह्रदे स्नात्वा भवेज्जातिस्मरो नरः । शरभंगाश्रमं गत्वा शुकस्य च महात्मनः ३८। पितृदेवार्चनरतो गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । दंडकारण्यमासाद्य महाराज उपस्पृशेत् ३९। शरभंगाश्रमं गत्वा शुकस्य च महात्मनः । न दुर्गतिमवाप्नोति पुनाति स्वकुलं नरः ४०। ततः सूर्यारकं गच्छेज्जमदग्निनिषेवितम् । रामतीर्थं नरः स्नात्वा विंद्याद्बहुसुवर्णकम् ४१। सप्तगोदावरीं स्नात्वा नियतो नियताशनः । महापुण्यमवाप्नोति देवलोकं च गच्छति ४२। ततो देवपथं गच्छेन्नियतो नियताशनः । देवसत्रस्य यत्पुण्यं तदवाप्नोति मानवः ४३। तुंगकारण्यमासाद्य ब्रह्मचारी जितेंद्रियः । वेदानध्यापयत्तत्र मुनीन्सारस्वतः पुरा ४४। तत्र वेदान्प्रणष्टांस्तु मुनेरांगिरसः सुतः । उपविष्टो महर्षीणामुत्तरीयेषु भारत ४५। ॐकारेण यथान्यायं सम्यगुच्चारितेन ह । येन यत्पूर्वमभ्यस्तं तस्य तत्समुपस्थितम् ४६। ऋषयस्तत्र देवाश्च वरुणोऽग्निप्रजापतिः । हरिर्नारायणो देवो महादेवस्तथैव च ४७। पितामहश्च भगवान्देवैस्सह महाद्युतिः । भृगुं नियोजयामास याजनार्थे महाद्युतिम् ४८। ततः स चक्रे भगवानृषीणां विधिवत्तदा । सर्वेषां पुनराधानं देवदृष्टेन कर्मणा ४९। आज्यभागेन वै तत्र तर्पितास्तु यथाविधि । देवास्त्रिभुवनं याता ऋषयश्च यथासुखम् ५०। तदरण्यं प्रविष्टस्य तुंगकं राजसत्तम । पापं विनश्यते सद्यः स्त्रिया वै पुरुषस्य वा ५१। तत्र मासं वसेद्धीरो नियतो नियताशनः । ब्रह्मलोकं व्रजेद्राजन्पुनीते च कुलं पुनः ५२। मेधावनं समासाद्य पितृदेवांश्च तर्पयेत् । अग्निष्टोममवाप्नोति स्मृतिं मेधां च विंदति ५३। तत्र कालंजरं गत्वा गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । आत्मानं साधयेत्तत्र गिरौ कालंजरे नृप ५४। स्वर्गलोके महीयेत नरो नास्त्यत्र संशयः । ततो गिरिवरश्रेष्ठे चित्रकूटे विशांपते ५५। मंदाकिनीं समासाद्य नदीं पापविमोचनीम् । अत्राभिषेकं कुर्वाणः पितृदेवार्चने रतः ५६। अश्वमेधमवाप्नोति गतिं च परमां व्रजेत् । ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र गुहस्थानमनुत्तमम् ५७। यत्र देवो महासेनो नित्यं सन्निहितो नृप । पुमांस्तत्र नरःश्रेष्ठ गमनादेव सिध्यति ५८। कोटितीर्थे नरः स्नात्वा गोसहस्रफलं लभेत् । प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्य यशःस्थानं व्रजेन्नरः ५९। अभिगम्य महादेवं विराजति यथा शशी । तत्र कूपो महाराज विश्रुतो भरतर्षभ ६०। समुद्रा यत्र चत्वारो निवसंति युधिष्ठिर । ततोपस्पृश्य राजेंद्र कृत्वा चापि प्रदक्षिणम् ६१। नियतात्मा नरः पूतो गच्छेत परमां गतिम् । ततो गच्छेत्कुरुश्रेष्ठ शृंगवेरपुरं महत् ६२। यत्र तीर्णो महाप्राज्ञो रामो दाशरथिः पुरा । गंगायां तु नरः स्नात्वा ब्रह्मचारी जितेंद्रियः ६३। विधूतपाप्मा भवति वाजपेयं च विंदति । ततो मुंजवटं गछेत्स्थानं देवस्य धीमतः ६४। अभिगम्य महादेवमभ्यर्च्य च नराधिप । प्रदक्षिणमुपावृत्य गाणपत्यमवाप्नुयात् ६५। ततो गच्छेत राजेंद्र प्रयागमृषिसंस्तुतम् । यत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवा दिशश्च सदिगीश्वराः ६६। लोकपालाश्च सिद्धाश्च निरताः पितरस्तथा । सनत्कुमारप्रमुखास्तथैव च महर्षयः ६७। तथा नागाः सुपर्णाश्च सिद्धाः शुक्रधरास्तथा । सरितः सागराश्चैव गंधर्वाप्सरसस्तथा ६८। हरिश्च भगवानास्ते प्रजापतिपुरस्कृतः । तत्र त्रीण्यपि कुंडानि तयोर्मध्येन जाह्नवी ६९। प्रयागात्समतिक्रांता सर्वतीर्थपुरस्कृता । तपनस्य सुता तत्र त्रिषु लोकेषु विश्रुता ७०। यमुनागंगया सार्द्धं संगता लोकभाविनी । गंगायमुनयोर्मध्ये पृथिव्या जघनं स्मृतम् ७१। प्रयागं जघनस्यांतमुपस्थमृषयो विदुः । प्रयागं सुप्रतिष्ठानं कंबलाश्वतरावुभौ ७२। तीर्थं भोगवती चैव वेदी प्रोक्ता प्रजापतेः । तत्र वेदाश्च यज्ञाश्च मूर्त्तिमंतो युधिष्ठिर ७३। प्रजापतिमुपासंत ऋषयश्च महानघाः । यजंते क्रतुभिर्देवांस्तथा चक्रधरा नृप ७४। ततः पुण्यतमं नास्ति त्रिषु लोकेषु भारत । प्रयागं सर्वतीर्थेभ्यः प्रभावेणाधिकं प्रभो ७५। श्रवणात्तस्य तीर्थस्य नामसंकीर्तनादपि । मूर्धका नमनाद्वापि सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ७६। तत्राभिषेकं यः कुर्यात्संगमे संशितव्रतः । पुण्यं सुमहदाप्नोति राजसूयाश्वमेधयोः ७७। एषा यजनभूमिर्हि देवानामपि तत्कथा । दत्तं तत्र स्वल्पमपि महद्भवति भारत ७८। न देववचनात्तात न लोकवचनादपि । मतिरुत्क्रमणीया ते प्रयागमरणं प्रति ७९। दशतीर्थसहस्राणि षष्टिकोट्यस्तथापराः । येषां सान्निध्यमत्रैव कीर्त्तितं कुरुनंदन ८०। चतुर्विद्ये च यत्पुण्यं सत्यवादिषु चैव यत् । स्नातएवतदाप्नोतिगंगायामुनसंगमे ८१। ततो भोगवती नाम वासुकेस्तीर्थमुत्तमम् । तत्राभिषेकं यः कुर्यात्सोऽश्वमेधमवाप्नुयात् ८२। तत्र हंसप्रपतनं तीर्थं त्रैलोक्यविश्रुतम् । दशाश्वमेधिकं चैव गंगायां कुरुनंदन ८३। कुरुक्षेत्रसमा गंगा यत्र तत्रावगाहिता । विशेषो वै कनखले प्रयागं परमं महत् ८४। यद्यकार्यशतं कृत्वा कृतं गंगावसेवनम् । सर्वं तत्तस्य गंगापो दहत्यग्निरिवेंधनम् ८५। सर्वं दहति गंगापस्तूलराशिमिवानलः । सर्वं कृतयुगे पुण्यं त्रेतायां पुष्करं स्मृतम् ८६। द्वापरे तु कुरुक्षेत्रं गंगा कलियुगे स्मृता । पुष्करे तु तपस्तप्येद्दानं दद्यान्महालये ८७। मलये त्वग्निमारोहेद्भृगुतुंगे त्वनाशनम् । पुष्करे तु कुरुक्षेत्रे गंगापो मध्यगेषु च ८८। सद्यस्तारयते जंतुः सप्तसप्तावरांस्तथा । पुनाति कीर्त्तिता पापं दृष्ट्वा पुण्यं प्रयच्छति ८९। अवगाढा च पीत्वा च पुनात्यासप्तमं कुलम् । यावदस्थि मनुष्यस्य गंगायाः स्पृशते जलम् ९०। तावत्स पुरुषो राजन्स्वर्गलोके महीयते । यथा पुण्यानि तीर्थानि पुण्यान्यायतनानि च ९१। उपास्य पुण्यं लब्ध्वा च भवति परलोकभाक् । न गंगा सदृशं तीर्थं न देवः केशवात्परः ९२। ब्राह्मणेभ्यः परं नास्ति एवमाह पितामहः । यत्र गंगा महाराज स देशस्तत्र योजनम् ९३। सिद्धक्षेत्रं च विज्ञेयं गंगातीरसमाश्रितम् । इदं सत्यं द्विजातीनां साधूनां मानसेषु च ९४। मुक्तिं चैव जपेत्कर्णे शिष्टस्यानुगतस्य च । इदं धर्म्यमिदं मेध्यमिदं स्वर्ग्यमिदं सुखम् ९५। इदं पुण्यतमं रम्यं पावनं धर्ममुत्तमम् । महीशीर्षमिदं गुह्यं सर्वपापप्रमोचनम् ९६। अधीत्य द्विजमध्ये च निर्मलत्वमवाप्नुयात् । श्रीमत्स्वर्ग्यं महापुण्यं सपत्नशमनं शिवम् ९७। मेधाजननमग्र्यं वै तीर्थवंशानुकीर्त्तनम् । अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रमधनो धनमाप्नुयात् ९८। महीं विजयते राजा वैश्यो धनमवाप्नुयात् । शूद्रो यातीप्सितान्कामान्ब्राह्मणः पारगः पठन् ९९। यश्चेदं शृणुयान्नित्यं तीर्थपुण्यं सदा शुचि । जातिस्मरत्वमाप्नोति नाकपृष्ठे च मोदते १००। गम्यान्यपि च तीर्थानि कीर्तितान्यगमान्यपि । मनसाप्यभिगच्छेत सर्वतीर्थमनीषया १०१। एतानि वसुभिः साध्यैरादित्यैर्मरुदश्विभिः । ऋषिभिर्देवकल्पैश्च कृतानि सुकृतैषिभिः १०२। एवं त्वमपि कौरव्य विधिनानेन सुव्रत । व्रज तीर्थानि नियतः पुण्यं पुण्येन वर्द्धते १०३। भावितैः करणैः पूर्वमास्तिक्याछ्रुतिदर्शनात् । प्राप्यंते तानि तीर्थानि सद्भिः शिष्टानुदर्शिभिः १०४। नाकृतो नाकृतात्मा च नाशुचिर्न च तस्करः । स्नाति तीर्थेषु कौरव्य न च वक्रमतिर्नरः १०५। त्वया तु सम्यग्वृत्तेन नित्यं धर्मार्थदर्शिना । पितरस्तर्पितास्तात सर्वे च प्रपितामहाः । पितामहपुरोगाश्च देवाः सर्षिगणास्तथा १०६। वसिष्ठ उवाच- त्वं च धर्मेण धर्मज्ञ नित्यमेवाभितोषिताः । दिलीपकीर्तिं महतीं प्राप्स्यसे भुवि शाश्वतीम् १०७। नारद उवाच- एवमुक्त्वाभ्यनुज्ञाप्य वसिष्ठो भगवानृषिः । प्रीतः प्रीतेनमनसा तत्रैवांतरधीयत १०८। दिलीपः कुरुशार्दूल शास्त्रतत्त्वार्थदर्शनात् । वसिष्ठवचनाच्चैव पृथिवीमनुचक्रमे १०९। एवमेषा महाभाग प्रतिष्ठाने प्रतिष्ठिता । तीर्थयात्रा महापुण्या सर्वपापप्रमोचनी ११०। अनेन विधिना यस्तु पृथिवीं पर्यटिष्यति । अश्वमेधशतं साग्रं फलं प्रेत्यैष भोक्ष्यते १११। ततश्चाष्टगुणं पार्थ प्राप्स्यसे धर्ममुत्तमम् । दिलीपः पार्थ नृपतिर्यथापूर्वमवाप्तवान् ११२। नेता च त्वमृषीन्यस्मात्तस्मात्तेष्टगुणं फलम् । रक्षोगणविकीर्णानि तीर्थान्येतानि भारत ११३। न गतिर्विद्यतेऽन्यस्य त्वामृते कुरुनंदन । इदं देवर्षिचरितं सर्वतीर्थानुसंश्रितम् ११४। यः पठेत्कल्यमुत्थाय सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते । ऋषिमुख्याः सदा यत्र वाल्मीकिस्त्वथ कश्यपः ११५। आत्रेयस्त्वथ कौंडिन्यो विश्वामित्रोऽथ गौतमः । असितो देवलश्चैव मार्कंडेयोऽथ गालवः ११६। भरद्वाजस्य शिष्यश्च मुनिरुद्दालकस्तथा । शौनकः सह पुत्रेण व्यासश्च तपतां वरः ११७। दुर्वासाश्च मुनिश्रेष्ठो जाबालिश्च महातपाः । एते ऋषिवराः सर्वे त्वत्प्रतीक्ष्यास्तपोधनाः ११८। एभिः सह महाभाग तीर्थान्येतान्यनुव्रज । प्राप्स्यसे महतीं कीर्तिं यथा राजा महाभिषः ११९। यथा ययातिर्धर्मात्मा यथा राजा पुरूरवाः । तथा त्वं कुरुशार्दूल स्वेन धर्मेण शोभसे १२०। यथा भगीरथो राजा यथा रामश्च विश्रुतः । यथा वै वृत्रहा सर्वान्सपत्नानदहत् पुरा १२१। त्रैलोक्यं पालयामास देवराट्विगतज्वरः । तथा शत्रुक्षयं कृत्वा त्वं प्रजाः पालयिष्यसि १२२। स्वधर्मेणार्जितामुर्वीं प्राप्य राजीवलोचन । ख्यातिं यास्यसि वीर्येण कार्त्तवीर्यार्जुनो यथा १२३। सूत उवाच- एवमाभाष्य राजानं नारदो भगवानृषिः । अनुज्ञाप्य महाराजं तत्रैवांतरधीयत १२४। युधिष्ठिरोऽपि धर्मात्मा ऋषिभिः सह सुव्रतः । जगामाखिलतीर्थानि सादरः पृथिवीपतिः १२५। मयोक्तामृषयः सर्वे तीर्थयात्राश्रयां कथाम् । यः पठेच्छृणुयाद्वापि स मुक्तः सर्वपातकैः १२६। मयोक्तमखिलं तत्त्वं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छथ । ऋषीणां पुण्यकीर्तीनां नावक्तव्यं ममास्ति वै १२७। इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे स्वर्गखंडे नानाविधतीर्थकथनं। नाम नवत्रिंशोऽध्यायः ३९।

nārada uvāca- atha saṃdhyāṃ samāsādya sa vidyāṃtīrthamuttamam | upaspṛśya naro vidvānbhavennāstyatra saṃśayaḥ 1| rāmasya ca prasādena tīrtharājaṃ kṛtaṃ purā | tallauhityaṃ samāsādya viṃdyādbahusuvarṇakam 2| karatoyāṃ samāsādya trirātropoṣito naraḥ | aśvamedhamavāpnoti śakralokaṃ ca gacchati 3| gaṃgāyāstvatha rājeṃdra sāgarasya ca saṃgame | aśvamedhaṃ daśaguṇaṃ pravadaṃti manīṣaṇaḥ 4| gaṃgāyāstu paraṃ dvīpaṃ prāpya yaḥ snāti bhārata | trirātropoṣito rājansarvakāmamavāpnuyāt 5| tato vaitaraṇīṃ gatvā nadīṃ pāpapramocanīm | virajaṃ tīrthamāsādya virājati yathā śaśī 6| prabhāve ca kulaṃ pūtvā sarvapāpaṃ vyapohati | gosahasraphalaṃ labdhvā punāti svakulaṃ naraḥ 7| śoṇasya jyotirathyāśca saṃgame nivasañchuciḥ | tarpayitvā pitṝndevānagniṣṭomaphalaṃ labhet 8| śoṇasya narmadāyāśca prabhave kurupuṃgava | vaṃśagulmamupaspṛśya vājimedhaphalaṃ labhet 9| ṛṣabhaṃ tīrthamāsādya kośalāyāṃ narādhipa | vājimedhamavāpnoti trirātropoṣito naraḥ 10| kośalāyāṃ samāsādya kālatīrthamupaspṛśet | vṛṣabhaikādaśaguṇaṃ labhate nātra saṃśayaḥ 11| puṣpavatyāmupaspṛśya trirātropoṣito naraḥ | gosahasraphalaṃ viṃdyātkulaṃ caiva samuddharet 12| tato badārikātīrthe snātvā prayatamānasaḥ | dīrghāyuṣyamavāpnoti svargalokaṃ ca gacchati 13| tato maheṃdramāsādya jāmadagnyaniṣevitam | rāmatīrthe naraḥ snātvā vājimedhaphalaṃ labhet 14| mataṃgasya tu kedāraṃ tatraiva bharatarṣabha | tatra snātvā naro rājangosahasraphalaṃ labhet 15| śrīparvataṃ samāsādya nadītīramupaspṛśet | aśvamedhamavāpnoti parāṃ siddhiṃ ca gacchati 16| śrīparvate mahādevo devyā saha mahādyutiḥ | nyavasatparamaprīto brahmā ca tridaśairvṛtaḥ 17| tatra devahrade snātvā śuciḥ prayatamānasaḥ | aśvamedhamavāpnoti parāṃ siddhiṃ ca gacchati 18| ṛṣabhaṃ parvataṃ gatvā bhāṃḍeṣu surapūjitam | vājapeyamavāpnoti nākapṛṣṭhe ca modate 19| tato gaccheta kāverīṃ vṛtāmṛpsarasāṃ gaṇaiḥ | tatra snātvā naro rājangosahasraphalaṃ labhet 20| tatra tīrthe samudrasya kanyātīrthamupaspṛśet | tatropaspṛśya rājeṃdra sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate 21| atha gokamarṇamāsādya triṣulokeṣu viśrutam | samudramadhye rājeṃdra sarvalokanamaskṛtam 22| yatra brahmādayo devā munayaśca tapodhanāḥ | bhūtayakṣāḥ piśācāśca kinnarāḥ samahoragāḥ 23| siddhacāraṇagaṃdharvā mānuṣāḥ pannagāstathā | saritaḥ sāgarāḥ śailā upāsaṃte umāpatim 24| tatreśānaṃ samabhyarcya trirātropoṣito naraḥ | daśāśvamedhamāpnoti gāṇapatyaṃ ca viṃdati 25| upoṣya dvādaśarātraṃ kṛtārtho jāyate naraḥ | tasminneva tu gāyatryāḥ sthānaṃ trailokyaviśrutam 26| trirātramuṣitastatra gosahasraphalaṃ labhet | nidarśanaṃ ca pratyakṣaṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ narādhipa 27| gāyatrīṃ paṭhate yastu yonisaṃkarajo dvijaḥ | gāthā vā gītikā vāṇī tasya saṃpadyate nṛpa 28| abrāhmaṇasya paṭhataḥ sāvitrī tūpanaśyati | saṃvartasya tu viprarṣe vāpīmāsādya durllabhām 29| rūpasya bhāgī bhavati subhagaścābhijāyate | tato veṇāṃ samāsādya tarpayetpitṛdevatāḥ 30| mayūrahaṃsasaṃyuktaṃ vimānaṃ labhate naraḥ | tato godāvarīṃ prāpya nityasiddhaniṣevitām 31| gavāmayamavāpnoti vāyulokaṃ ca gacchati | veṇāyāḥ saṃgame snātvā vājapeyaphalaṃ labhet 32| varadāsaṃgamaṃ snātvā gosahasraphalaṃ labhet | brahmasthūṇāṃ samāsādya trirātropoṣito naraḥ 33| gosahasraphalaṃ viṃdyātsvargalokaṃ ca gacchati | kubjāvanaṃ samāsādya brahmacārī samāhitaḥ 34| trirātropoṣitaḥ snātvā gosahasraphalaṃ labhet | tato devahrade snātvā kṛṣṇaveṇā jalodbhave 35| jyotirmātra hrade caiva tathā kanyāśrame nṛpa | yatra kratuśatairiṣṭvā devarājo divaṃ gataḥ 36| agniṣṭomaśataṃ viṃdyādgamanādeva tatra tu | sarvadevahrade snātvā gosahasraphalaṃ labhet 37| jātimātra hrade snātvā bhavejjātismaro naraḥ | śarabhaṃgāśramaṃ gatvā śukasya ca mahātmanaḥ 38| pitṛdevārcanarato gosahasraphalaṃ labhet | daṃḍakāraṇyamāsādya mahārāja upaspṛśet 39| śarabhaṃgāśramaṃ gatvā śukasya ca mahātmanaḥ | na durgatimavāpnoti punāti svakulaṃ naraḥ 40| tataḥ sūryārakaṃ gacchejjamadagniniṣevitam | rāmatīrthaṃ naraḥ snātvā viṃdyādbahusuvarṇakam 41| saptagodāvarīṃ snātvā niyato niyatāśanaḥ | mahāpuṇyamavāpnoti devalokaṃ ca gacchati 42| tato devapathaṃ gacchenniyato niyatāśanaḥ | devasatrasya yatpuṇyaṃ tadavāpnoti mānavaḥ 43| tuṃgakāraṇyamāsādya brahmacārī jiteṃdriyaḥ | vedānadhyāpayattatra munīnsārasvataḥ purā 44| tatra vedānpraṇaṣṭāṃstu munerāṃgirasaḥ sutaḥ | upaviṣṭo maharṣīṇāmuttarīyeṣu bhārata 45| oṃkāreṇa yathānyāyaṃ samyaguccāritena ha | yena yatpūrvamabhyastaṃ tasya tatsamupasthitam 46| ṛṣayastatra devāśca varuṇo'gniprajāpatiḥ | harirnārāyaṇo devo mahādevastathaiva ca 47| pitāmahaśca bhagavāndevaissaha mahādyutiḥ | bhṛguṃ niyojayāmāsa yājanārthe mahādyutim 48| tataḥ sa cakre bhagavānṛṣīṇāṃ vidhivattadā | sarveṣāṃ punarādhānaṃ devadṛṣṭena karmaṇā 49| ājyabhāgena vai tatra tarpitāstu yathāvidhi | devāstribhuvanaṃ yātā ṛṣayaśca yathāsukham 50| tadaraṇyaṃ praviṣṭasya tuṃgakaṃ rājasattama | pāpaṃ vinaśyate sadyaḥ striyā vai puruṣasya vā 51| tatra māsaṃ vaseddhīro niyato niyatāśanaḥ | brahmalokaṃ vrajedrājanpunīte ca kulaṃ punaḥ 52| medhāvanaṃ samāsādya pitṛdevāṃśca tarpayet | agniṣṭomamavāpnoti smṛtiṃ medhāṃ ca viṃdati 53| tatra kālaṃjaraṃ gatvā gosahasraphalaṃ labhet | ātmānaṃ sādhayettatra girau kālaṃjare nṛpa 54| svargaloke mahīyeta naro nāstyatra saṃśayaḥ | tato girivaraśreṣṭhe citrakūṭe viśāṃpate 55| maṃdākinīṃ samāsādya nadīṃ pāpavimocanīm | atrābhiṣekaṃ kurvāṇaḥ pitṛdevārcane rataḥ 56| aśvamedhamavāpnoti gatiṃ ca paramāṃ vrajet | tato gaccheta rājeṃdra guhasthānamanuttamam 57| yatra devo mahāseno nityaṃ sannihito nṛpa | pumāṃstatra naraḥśreṣṭha gamanādeva sidhyati 58| koṭitīrthe naraḥ snātvā gosahasraphalaṃ labhet | pradakṣiṇamupāvṛtya yaśaḥsthānaṃ vrajennaraḥ 59| abhigamya mahādevaṃ virājati yathā śaśī | tatra kūpo mahārāja viśruto bharatarṣabha 60| samudrā yatra catvāro nivasaṃti yudhiṣṭhira | tatopaspṛśya rājeṃdra kṛtvā cāpi pradakṣiṇam 61| niyatātmā naraḥ pūto gaccheta paramāṃ gatim | tato gacchetkuruśreṣṭha śṛṃgaverapuraṃ mahat 62| yatra tīrṇo mahāprājño rāmo dāśarathiḥ purā | gaṃgāyāṃ tu naraḥ snātvā brahmacārī jiteṃdriyaḥ 63| vidhūtapāpmā bhavati vājapeyaṃ ca viṃdati | tato muṃjavaṭaṃ gachetsthānaṃ devasya dhīmataḥ 64| abhigamya mahādevamabhyarcya ca narādhipa | pradakṣiṇamupāvṛtya gāṇapatyamavāpnuyāt 65| tato gaccheta rājeṃdra prayāgamṛṣisaṃstutam | yatra brahmādayo devā diśaśca sadigīśvarāḥ 66| lokapālāśca siddhāśca niratāḥ pitarastathā | sanatkumārapramukhāstathaiva ca maharṣayaḥ 67| tathā nāgāḥ suparṇāśca siddhāḥ śukradharāstathā | saritaḥ sāgarāścaiva gaṃdharvāpsarasastathā 68| hariśca bhagavānāste prajāpatipuraskṛtaḥ | tatra trīṇyapi kuṃḍāni tayormadhyena jāhnavī 69| prayāgātsamatikrāṃtā sarvatīrthapuraskṛtā | tapanasya sutā tatra triṣu lokeṣu viśrutā 70| yamunāgaṃgayā sārddhaṃ saṃgatā lokabhāvinī | gaṃgāyamunayormadhye pṛthivyā jaghanaṃ smṛtam 71| prayāgaṃ jaghanasyāṃtamupasthamṛṣayo viduḥ | prayāgaṃ supratiṣṭhānaṃ kaṃbalāśvatarāvubhau 72| tīrthaṃ bhogavatī caiva vedī proktā prajāpateḥ | tatra vedāśca yajñāśca mūrttimaṃto yudhiṣṭhira 73| prajāpatimupāsaṃta ṛṣayaśca mahānaghāḥ | yajaṃte kratubhirdevāṃstathā cakradharā nṛpa 74| tataḥ puṇyatamaṃ nāsti triṣu lokeṣu bhārata | prayāgaṃ sarvatīrthebhyaḥ prabhāveṇādhikaṃ prabho 75| śravaṇāttasya tīrthasya nāmasaṃkīrtanādapi | mūrdhakā namanādvāpi sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate 76| tatrābhiṣekaṃ yaḥ kuryātsaṃgame saṃśitavrataḥ | puṇyaṃ sumahadāpnoti rājasūyāśvamedhayoḥ 77| eṣā yajanabhūmirhi devānāmapi tatkathā | dattaṃ tatra svalpamapi mahadbhavati bhārata 78| na devavacanāttāta na lokavacanādapi | matirutkramaṇīyā te prayāgamaraṇaṃ prati 79| daśatīrthasahasrāṇi ṣaṣṭikoṭyastathāparāḥ | yeṣāṃ sānnidhyamatraiva kīrttitaṃ kurunaṃdana 80| caturvidye ca yatpuṇyaṃ satyavādiṣu caiva yat | snātaevatadāpnotigaṃgāyāmunasaṃgame 81| tato bhogavatī nāma vāsukestīrthamuttamam | tatrābhiṣekaṃ yaḥ kuryātso'śvamedhamavāpnuyāt 82| tatra haṃsaprapatanaṃ tīrthaṃ trailokyaviśrutam | daśāśvamedhikaṃ caiva gaṃgāyāṃ kurunaṃdana 83| kurukṣetrasamā gaṃgā yatra tatrāvagāhitā | viśeṣo vai kanakhale prayāgaṃ paramaṃ mahat 84| yadyakāryaśataṃ kṛtvā kṛtaṃ gaṃgāvasevanam | sarvaṃ tattasya gaṃgāpo dahatyagniriveṃdhanam 85| sarvaṃ dahati gaṃgāpastūlarāśimivānalaḥ | sarvaṃ kṛtayuge puṇyaṃ tretāyāṃ puṣkaraṃ smṛtam 86| dvāpare tu kurukṣetraṃ gaṃgā kaliyuge smṛtā | puṣkare tu tapastapyeddānaṃ dadyānmahālaye 87| malaye tvagnimārohedbhṛgutuṃge tvanāśanam | puṣkare tu kurukṣetre gaṃgāpo madhyageṣu ca 88| sadyastārayate jaṃtuḥ saptasaptāvarāṃstathā | punāti kīrttitā pāpaṃ dṛṣṭvā puṇyaṃ prayacchati 89| avagāḍhā ca pītvā ca punātyāsaptamaṃ kulam | yāvadasthi manuṣyasya gaṃgāyāḥ spṛśate jalam 90| tāvatsa puruṣo rājansvargaloke mahīyate | yathā puṇyāni tīrthāni puṇyānyāyatanāni ca 91| upāsya puṇyaṃ labdhvā ca bhavati paralokabhāk | na gaṃgā sadṛśaṃ tīrthaṃ na devaḥ keśavātparaḥ 92| brāhmaṇebhyaḥ paraṃ nāsti evamāha pitāmahaḥ | yatra gaṃgā mahārāja sa deśastatra yojanam 93| siddhakṣetraṃ ca vijñeyaṃ gaṃgātīrasamāśritam | idaṃ satyaṃ dvijātīnāṃ sādhūnāṃ mānaseṣu ca 94| muktiṃ caiva japetkarṇe śiṣṭasyānugatasya ca | idaṃ dharmyamidaṃ medhyamidaṃ svargyamidaṃ sukham 95| idaṃ puṇyatamaṃ ramyaṃ pāvanaṃ dharmamuttamam | mahīśīrṣamidaṃ guhyaṃ sarvapāpapramocanam 96| adhītya dvijamadhye ca nirmalatvamavāpnuyāt | śrīmatsvargyaṃ mahāpuṇyaṃ sapatnaśamanaṃ śivam 97| medhājananamagryaṃ vai tīrthavaṃśānukīrttanam | aputro labhate putramadhano dhanamāpnuyāt 98| mahīṃ vijayate rājā vaiśyo dhanamavāpnuyāt | śūdro yātīpsitānkāmānbrāhmaṇaḥ pāragaḥ paṭhan 99| yaścedaṃ śṛṇuyānnityaṃ tīrthapuṇyaṃ sadā śuci | jātismaratvamāpnoti nākapṛṣṭhe ca modate 100| gamyānyapi ca tīrthāni kīrtitānyagamānyapi | manasāpyabhigaccheta sarvatīrthamanīṣayā 101| etāni vasubhiḥ sādhyairādityairmarudaśvibhiḥ | ṛṣibhirdevakalpaiśca kṛtāni sukṛtaiṣibhiḥ 102| evaṃ tvamapi kauravya vidhinānena suvrata | vraja tīrthāni niyataḥ puṇyaṃ puṇyena varddhate 103| bhāvitaiḥ karaṇaiḥ pūrvamāstikyāchrutidarśanāt | prāpyaṃte tāni tīrthāni sadbhiḥ śiṣṭānudarśibhiḥ 104| nākṛto nākṛtātmā ca nāśucirna ca taskaraḥ | snāti tīrtheṣu kauravya na ca vakramatirnaraḥ 105| tvayā tu samyagvṛttena nityaṃ dharmārthadarśinā | pitarastarpitāstāta sarve ca prapitāmahāḥ | pitāmahapurogāśca devāḥ sarṣigaṇāstathā 106| vasiṣṭha uvāca- tvaṃ ca dharmeṇa dharmajña nityamevābhitoṣitāḥ | dilīpakīrtiṃ mahatīṃ prāpsyase bhuvi śāśvatīm 107| nārada uvāca- evamuktvābhyanujñāpya vasiṣṭho bhagavānṛṣiḥ | prītaḥ prītenamanasā tatraivāṃtaradhīyata 108| dilīpaḥ kuruśārdūla śāstratattvārthadarśanāt | vasiṣṭhavacanāccaiva pṛthivīmanucakrame 109| evameṣā mahābhāga pratiṣṭhāne pratiṣṭhitā | tīrthayātrā mahāpuṇyā sarvapāpapramocanī 110| anena vidhinā yastu pṛthivīṃ paryaṭiṣyati | aśvamedhaśataṃ sāgraṃ phalaṃ pretyaiṣa bhokṣyate 111| tataścāṣṭaguṇaṃ pārtha prāpsyase dharmamuttamam | dilīpaḥ pārtha nṛpatiryathāpūrvamavāptavān 112| netā ca tvamṛṣīnyasmāttasmātteṣṭaguṇaṃ phalam | rakṣogaṇavikīrṇāni tīrthānyetāni bhārata 113| na gatirvidyate'nyasya tvāmṛte kurunaṃdana | idaṃ devarṣicaritaṃ sarvatīrthānusaṃśritam 114| yaḥ paṭhetkalyamutthāya sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate | ṛṣimukhyāḥ sadā yatra vālmīkistvatha kaśyapaḥ 115| ātreyastvatha kauṃḍinyo viśvāmitro'tha gautamaḥ | asito devalaścaiva mārkaṃḍeyo'tha gālavaḥ 116| bharadvājasya śiṣyaśca muniruddālakastathā | śaunakaḥ saha putreṇa vyāsaśca tapatāṃ varaḥ 117| durvāsāśca muniśreṣṭho jābāliśca mahātapāḥ | ete ṛṣivarāḥ sarve tvatpratīkṣyāstapodhanāḥ 118| ebhiḥ saha mahābhāga tīrthānyetānyanuvraja | prāpsyase mahatīṃ kīrtiṃ yathā rājā mahābhiṣaḥ 119| yathā yayātirdharmātmā yathā rājā purūravāḥ | tathā tvaṃ kuruśārdūla svena dharmeṇa śobhase 120| yathā bhagīratho rājā yathā rāmaśca viśrutaḥ | yathā vai vṛtrahā sarvānsapatnānadahat purā 121| trailokyaṃ pālayāmāsa devarāṭvigatajvaraḥ | tathā śatrukṣayaṃ kṛtvā tvaṃ prajāḥ pālayiṣyasi 122| svadharmeṇārjitāmurvīṃ prāpya rājīvalocana | khyātiṃ yāsyasi vīryeṇa kārttavīryārjuno yathā 123| sūta uvāca- evamābhāṣya rājānaṃ nārado bhagavānṛṣiḥ | anujñāpya mahārājaṃ tatraivāṃtaradhīyata 124| yudhiṣṭhiro'pi dharmātmā ṛṣibhiḥ saha suvrataḥ | jagāmākhilatīrthāni sādaraḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ 125| mayoktāmṛṣayaḥ sarve tīrthayātrāśrayāṃ kathām | yaḥ paṭhecchṛṇuyādvāpi sa muktaḥ sarvapātakaiḥ 126| mayoktamakhilaṃ tattvaṃ kiṃ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchatha | ṛṣīṇāṃ puṇyakīrtīnāṃ nāvaktavyaṃ mamāsti vai 127| iti śrīpādme mahāpurāṇe svargakhaṃḍe nānāvidhatīrthakathanaṃ| nāma navatriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ 39|

English translation

Nārada said :

1-2. Then having reached Savidyā Sandhyā , the excellent holy place and having bathed there a man becomes learned. There is no doubt about this. Having reached the holy place Lauhitya , made the chief holy place by Rāma in olden days, he would obtain much gold.

3. Having reached Karatoyā a man who fasts (there) for three nights obtains (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice, and goes to Indra ’s world.

4. O lord of kings, the wise say that a man obtains ten times (the fruit of an Aśvamedha by fasting) at the confluence of Gaṅgā and the ocean.

5. O descendant of Bharata , he who, after having reached the yonder island in Gaṅgā, bathes there and fasts for three nights would obtain all desired objects.

6-7. Then having gone to the river Vaitaraṇī which frees (a person) from sins and reaching Virāja tīrtha , he shines like the moon. (By bathing) at Prabhava he purifies his family and destroys all sin. Obtaining the fruit of (the gift of) a thousand cows he purifies his family.

8-9. A pure man living at the confluence of Śoṇa and Jyotirathī after offering oblations to manes and deities, would get the fruit of an Agniṣṭoma sacrifice. Having bathed at Vaṃśagulma at the source of Śoṇa and Narmadā he would obtain the fruit of a horse sacrifice, O best among the Kurus .

10-11. A man having reached Ṛṣabhatīrtha in Kośala and having fasted there for three nights obtains (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice. Reaching Kālatīrtha in Kośala a man should bathe (there). There is no doubt that he obtains the fruit eleven times greater than that of (giving away) a bull.

12-15. Having bathed at Puṣpavatī , a man who has fasted for three nights, would obtain the fruit (of giving away) a thousand cows and would liberate his family. Then, having with a restrained mind bathed at the Badarikātīrtha a man obtains long life and goes to heaven. Then reaching Mahendra resorted to by ( Paraśurāma ) the son of Jamadagni a man who bathes at Rāmatīrtha , obtains the fruit of a horse sacrifice. The field (i.e. place) of Mātaṅga is just there, O best of Bharatas . O king, having bathed there a man would obtain the fruit of (giving away) a thousand cows.

16-18. Having reached Śrīparvata he should bathe at the bank of the river. Thereby he obtains (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice and goes to the great welfare. On Śrīparvata Mahādeva of great lustre and highly delighted lived. So also Brahmā surrounded by gods (lived there). A pure man with his mind controlled obtains after bathing at the Devahrada (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice and obtains great welfare.

19-20. Having gone to the Ṛṣabha mountain in the Bhāṇḍa (region) which is adored by gods he obtains (the fruit of) a Vāja-peya and rejoices in heaven. Thence a man should go to Kāverī thronged by hosts of celestial nymphs. O king, having bathed there a man would obtain the fruit of (giving away) a thousand cows.

21-30a. He should, at that holy place of the ocean, bathe at Kanyātīrtha . O lord of kings, having bathed there, he is freed from all sins. Then, O lord of kings, having reached Gokarṇa in the sea, revered by people, where gods like Brahmā and others, all sages with penance as their wealth, goblins, yakṣas , ghosts, kinnaras with great serpents, siddhas , cāraṇas , gandharvas , human beings, snakes, rivers, oceans and mountains wait upon the lord of Umā, a man having fasted for three nights and having worshipped the lord ( Śiva ) obtains (the fruit of) ten horse sacrifices and the status of the chief of Śiva’s attendants. Having fasted for twelve nights, a man is blessed. There only is the place of Gāyatrī well-known in three worlds. Having stayed there for three nights a man would obtain the fruit of (having given away) a thousand cows. This is confirmed by direct evidence of brāhmaṇas , O king. A twice-born, born of the mixture of castes by unlawful inter-marriage, who recites the Gāyatrī (-hymn) there, is furnished with a religious verse or a song(?), O king. Sāvitrī , however, goes away from a non- brāhmaṇa reciting (Gāyatrī-hymn). O brāhmaṇa-sage, having reached the tank at Saṃvarta , difficult to be reached, a man partakes of handsomeness (i.e. becomes handsome) and becomes fortunate.

30b-31a. Thence having reached Veṇā he should offer oblations to the manes and deities. A man (thereby) obtains an aeroplane to which peacocks and swans are yoked.

31b-33a. Thence having reached Godāvarī always resorted to by siddhas, he obtains (the fruit of) a Gavāmaya and goes to the world of Vāyu . Having bathed at the confluence of Veṇā he would obtain the fruit of a Vājapeya . Having bathed at Varadāsaṅgama , he would obtain the fruit of (having given away) a thousand cows.

33b-39. A man having reached Brahmasthūṇā, and having fasted (there) for three nights, would obtain the fruit of (having given away) a thousand cows, and he goes to heaven. Being restrained and calm, he, having reached Kubjavana, and having fasted for three nights and bathed there, would obtain the fruit of (having donated) a thousand cows. Then having bathed (i.e. he should bathe) in Devahrada formed in the water of Kṛṣṇaveṇā , and also in Jyotirmātra tank, and in Kanyāśrama , where, having performed a hundred sacrifices, (Indra) the lord of gods, went to heaven. By merely going there, a man would obtain (the fruit of) a hundred Agniṣṭoma sacrifices. Having bathed in the Sarvadevahrada , he would obtain the fruit of (having donated) a thousand cows. A man having bathed in the Jātimātrahrada has (the faculty of) recollecting his former births. Then he should go to the tank (in) the very auspicious Payoṣṇī , the best of rivers. A man engaged in worshipping his manes and deities (there), would obtain the fruit of (having donated) a thousand cows. O great king, having reached Daṇḍaka -forest he should bathe there.

40-42. (He should also bathe) after going to the hermitage of Śarabhaṅga , and also of the magnanimous Śuka . He does not meet with a disaster, and purifies his own family. Thence he should go to Sūryāraka , resorted to by Jamadagni. A man having bathed at Rāmatīrtha would obtain much gold. Being controlled and having restrained his diet, he, after having bathed at Saptagodāvarī , obtains great religious merit, and goes to heaven.

43-52. Thence, being restrained and having controlled his diet, a man should go to (the holy place called) Devapatha . He obtains that merit which is obtained by performing (the sacrifice named) Devasatra. Being a religious student and with his senses controlled, he should reach Tuṅgakāraṇya where formerly the eloquent one taught the sages the Vedas that were lost. The son of the sage Aṅgiras formerly sat on the upper garments of the great sages, O descendant of Bharata. Due to Oṃkāra that was properly and correctly pronounced, that which was repeated (-ly thought) by a sage stood before him. There, the sages, the gods, Varuṇa , Agni , Prajāpati , god Hari Nārāyaṇa (i.e. Viṣṇu ), Śiva, also the revered and very lustrous Brahmā, along with the gods appointed the very lustrous Bhṛgu to officiate as a priest at the sacrifice. Then the revered one settled all the sages according to the rite as observed by the gods and in the proper manner (in their proper positions). Gods and sages properly pleased by (their) portion of ghee went happily to the three worlds. O best king, the sin of a person—a woman or a man—who enters that forest, suddenly perishes. A wise man being controlled and with his diet restrained, should stay there for a month. (Thereby) he would go to Brahmā’s world and again purifies his family (also).

53-57a. Having reached Medhāvana, a man should offer oblations to manes and deities. (By doing so) he gets (the fruit of) an Agniṣṭoma (sacrifice), and also memory and intelligence. Having gone to Kālañjara there, he would obtain the fruit of (having donated) a thousand cows. O king, he should practice self-control on the Kālañjara mountain. The man is honoured in heaven. There is no doubt about it. Thence, O lord of people, having reached the river Mandākinī , that frees (people) from sins, on Citrakūṭa , the best of the mountains (he should bathe there). A man who bathes here and is engaged in worshipping manes and deities obtains the fruit of a horse sacrifice, and goes to the best position (i.e. salvation).

57b-62a. O lord of kings, thence he should go to the excellent Guhasthāna, where god Mahāsena (i.e. Kārtikeya ) is always present, O king. O best of men, a man attains perfection merely by going there. A man having bathed at Koṭitīrtha obtains the fruit of (presenting) a thousand cows. Turning right, a man should go to Yaśaḥsthāna. Having gone to Mahādeva, he shines like the moon. O best of the Bharatas, there is a well-known tank where, O Yudhiṣṭhira , the four oceans dwell. O lord of kings, a man having bathed and circumambulated there, and being restrained and purified would go to the best state (i.e. salvation).

62b-64a. O best of Kurus, thence he should go to the great Śṛṅgaverapura where formerly the very wise Rāma, the son of Daśaratha , crossed (the river). A man observing chastity and with his senses controlled, has his sins shaken off and obtains (the fruit of) a Vājapeya after bathing in Gaṅgā.

64b-100. Thence he should go to the place of the intelligent god. Having approached Mahādeva, and having worshipped him, and having circumambulated, O king, a man would become the chief of the attendants of Śiva. O lord of kings, a man should thence go to Prayāga which is extolled by the sages, where gods like Brahmā and others, the quarters with the lords of quarters, the regents of the quarters, siddhas, the devoted manes, sages led by Sanatkumāra , also nāgas , suparṇas , siddhas, celibates, rivers, oceans, gandharvas, celestial nymphs (stay), and also the revered Viṣṇu led by Brahmā stays. There are three tanks . Among them (flows) Gaṅgā, honoured by the Holy Places and going beyond Prayāga. At that place, Yamunā , Sun’s daughter, purifying the world, and well-known in the three worlds, has joined Gaṅgā. The buttocks of earth are said to be between Gaṅgā and Yamunā. The sages know Prayāga to be the end of the buttocks, i.e. the lap. Prayāga has Pratiṣṭhāna (so also) both Kambala and Aśvatara . Similarly the holy place Bhogavatī is the altar of Prajāpati. O Yudhiṣṭhira, there Vedas and sacrifices, being embodied, wait upon Prajāpati; and the highly innocent sages and sovereigns offer sacrifices to gods, O king. O descendant of Bharata, there is nothing holier than that in the three worlds. O lord, Prayāga is superior to all holy places due to its glory. By hearing about that holy place, by mentioning its name, or by bowing (his) head (before it), a man is freed from all sins. He, of a severe vow, who bathes there at the confluence, obtains great religious merit of the Rājasūya and horse sacrifice. This is the place of sacrifices of the gods. The story about it (is): O descendant of Bharata, whatever little is given there, becomes great. Even by the words of gods or of people, you should not disregard your thought of dying at Prayāga. There are ten thousand holy places, and others sixty crores in number, the presence of (all of) which is said to be here only, O descendant of Kuru . A man, who bathes at the confluence of Gaṅgā and Yamunā, gets the same religious merit as accrues to one who has studied the four Vedas, or to those who speak the truth. Then there is the excellent holy place Bhogavatī of (i.e. sacred to) Vāsuki . He, who bathes there, would obtain (the fruit of) a horse sacrifice. There is the holy place (called) Haṃsaprapatana , well-known in the three worlds. There is also (the holy place called) Daśāśvamedhika on (the bank of) Gaṅgā, O descendant of Kuru. Here Gaṅgā has come down as at Kurukṣetra . A speciality is—at Kanakhala Prayāga becomes (a) great (holy place). If after doing a hundred bad deeds a man resorts to Gaṅgā, the water of Gaṅgā burns (i.e. removes) all those (sins) as fire burns fuel. The water of Gaṅgā burns (i.e. removes) all that as fire burns a heap of cotton . Every (holy place) is auspicious in Kṛtayuga ; Puṣkara is said to be so in Tretāyuga . Kurukṣetra is said to be so in Dvāparayuga , and Gaṅgā in Kaliyuga . One should practice penance at Puṣkara and he should give a gift at Mahālaya . One should get onto (i.e. enter) fire at Malaya and anāśana(?) at Bhṛgutuṅga , and the water of Gaṅgā at Puṣkara, Kurukṣetra and the places in between (madhyageṣu?). A creature (thus) instantly liberates seven preceding and seven succeeding (members of his family). Gaṅgā, by her (mere) mention purifies sins; by being seen gives merit; by bathing (in the stream) and drinking her water she purifies the family up to the seventh member. O king, as long as the bone of a man touches the water of Gaṅgā, the man is honoured in heaven. As (already) mentioned, having resorted to the auspicious places and holy places, a man, obtaining religious merit, becomes a resident of the other world. “There is no holy place like Gaṅgā, there is no god greater than Viṣṇu, there is none superior to brāhmaṇas.” Thus spoke the Grandsire. That region, up to the limit of a yojana , where (i.e. through which) Gaṅgā flows, should be known as the region of siddhas (as) it has resorted to the bank of Gaṅgā. This is the truth in the minds of the twice-born and the good. A man should mutter (about) liberation into the ear of a viruous [virtous?] man or a follower. This is meritorious, this is pure, this leads to heaven, this gives happiness. This is the most holy, purifying, excellent way of life. This is the secret of the sages, which frees (a person) from all sins. Having studied in the midst of brāhmaṇas, he should secure purity. It is glorious, it leads to heaven, it is very meritorious, it puts an end to (one’s) enemies, it is auspicious. The description of the multitude of holy places is the best producer of intelligence. A man having no son gets a son. A poor man would obtain wealth. A king conquers the earth. A vaiśya would obtain wealth. A śūdra obtains his desired objects, and a brāhmaṇa who recites (the Vedas) masters them. He who would daily listen to this meritorious (account of) the holy places, which is always pure, obtains the (faculty of) recollecting his former births and rejoices in heaven.

101-106. I have described the holy places that are accessible and that are inaccessible. With a desire to visit all the holy places a man should even go to them mentally. (Visits to) these were undertaken by Vasus , Sādhyas , Ādityas , Maruts , Aśvins , sages like gods, desiring merit. O you descendant of Kuru, O you of a good vow, you too visit the holy places in this manner. Merit enhances by merit. The holy places are reached through piety and through the knowledge of the scriptures by the good people, whose senses are purified, and who follow the wise. A man who is not one who has not done (good) deeds, who is not foolish, who is not impure, who is not a thief, whose mind is not crooked (alone) bathes at the holy places, O descendant of Kuru. O dear one, you of a proper conduct, and always observing piety, have always gratified your manes and all paternal great-grandfathers, and all gods led by Brahmā and along with groups of sages.

Vasiṣṭha said :

107. You, O pious one, have always pleased (these) by means of your righteousness. On the earth you will obtain great, eternal fame like Dilīpa .

Nārada said :

108. Speaking thus and advising (Yudhiṣṭhira), the revered sage Vasiṣṭha , being pleased, disappeared there only with a pleased mind.

109-123. O best of the Kurus, by perceiving the truth of the sacred treatises and by the words ofVasiṣṭha, Dilīpa crossed the earth. O glorious one, the very meritorious pilgrimage, freeing one from all sins, is effective in (i.e. by visiting) Pratiṣṭhāna. He who wanders over the earth in this manner, enjoys after death the entire fruit of a hundred horse sacrifices. O king, you will obtain eight times the excellent merit which formerly king Dilīpa had secured, O son of Kuntī . Since you will lead the sages, you will have eightfold fruit. O descendant of Bharata, these sacred places are crowded with the hosts of demons. O descendant of Kuru, nobody except you can have an access (to these places). He who, getting up at daybreak, would recite this account of the divine sages, depending on all the holy places, is freed from all sins. The principal sages like Vālmīki and Kaśyapa , Ātreya and Kauṇḍinya , Viśvāmitra and Gautama , Asita and Devala , Mārkaṇḍeya and Gālava , also Bharadvāja ’s disciple, sage Uddālaka , Śaunaka with his son, Vyāsa the best among the ascetics, the best sage Durvāsas , Jābāli of great penance—all these best sages, with penance as their wealth, deserve to be respected by you. O glorious one, with them go to these sacred places. You will obtain great fame like king Mahābhiṣa . O best among the Kurus, with your righteousness you shine like the pious Yayāti or like king Purūravas , like king Bhagīratha or like Rāma, who was well-known. As formerly (Indra), the killer of Vṛtra , and the king of gods, burnt (i.e. destroyed) all his enemies, and being free from distress, protected the three worlds, so you will protect your subjects after destroying your enemies. O lotus-eyed one, having obtained the earth secured by your good works, you will obtain fame like Kārtavīrya Arjuna .

Sūta said :

124-127. Having spoken like this, and having advised holy great king, the revered sage Nārada disappeared there only. The lord of the earth, Yudhiṣṭhira, of a good vow, respectfully visited along with the sages all the sacred places. O all sages, he who would recite or listen to the account about the pilgrimage told by me, becomes free from all sins. I have told you the entire fact. What more do you want to hear? There is nothing that cannot be told by me about the sages of pious fame.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 43201, revision 333718 (2022-03-15T17:00:00Z). English is N. A. Deshpande’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-padma-purana/d/doc365258.html and the ten-volume archival witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.