More about Merits Derived from Pilgrimage

Yudhisthira said:

1-5. I have heard what Brahma told and what gives religious merit, in the Purana. There are thousands and hundreds and millions of holy places. All these are auspicious and pure and (are) said (to lead to) the highest position. Naimisa is meritorious on the earth and Puskara in the Intermediate Space; so also is Prayaga for the people, and Kuruksetra also excels. How do you praise one (only) leaving all (others)? This is said to be unauthoritative, unbelievable and not good. How do you speak approvingly of divine and highest position, and pleasures as desired, and great merit through little yoga? Tell me about (i.e. remove) this doubt of mine according as you have seen and heard. Mdrkandeya said:

6-14a. What is unbelievable should not be told. It may be actually seen by a man having faith (but) with his mind smitten with sin. One who has no faith, one who is impure, one who has given up auspicious practices — all these are sinners. Therefore I spoke (like) this. Listen to (the description of) the greatness of Prayaga, as seen and heard about (by me). There will be (i.e. it will contain) what is seen and not seen and any other possible facts, O king, which I formerly saw or heard about. One's application (or path) is honoured (only) after regarding the sacred texts as authoritative. There (i.e. while doing so) (if) someone else is afflicted, one should not have (recourse to) such a path. Men obtain (the right) path after thousands of births, since by a thousand applications men obtain the (right) path. He who gives all jewels to brahmanas (obtains yoga), (for) by that gift given (to brahmanas), men obtain application. All this happens in the case of him who dies at Prayaga, and not otherwise. I shall tell principally to them who have faith, O descendant of Bharata. Since it is seen in all beings, everywhere, Brahman is not something which can be described.

14b-18a. As Brahman is worshipped among all beings everywhere, in the same way Prayaga is worshipped by the wise in all the worlds. (It) is worshipped (like this). O Yudhisthira, this is the truth about the lord of holy places. Even Brahma always remembers Prayaga, the best holy place. Having reached (this) lord of the holy places he does not desire anything else. Who, having obtained godhead, desires manhood? From this inference only, O Yudhisthira, you will know whether I have told you what is meritorious or non-meritorious. Yudhisthira said:

18b-19a. I have beard what you told. I am repeatedly amazed. How can it be attained by yoga and heaven by (one's) acts? He gets pleasures and (comes to) the earth as the fruit of (certain) acts. I am asking about those acts due to which he again gets (i.e. comes to) the earth. Markandeya said:

19b-26. O king, hear by which acts (he comes to) the earth. O king, such men as censure a cow, fire, brahmana, sacred texts, gold, water, women, mother, father, do not have an upward going. Thus spoke Prajapati. Thus yoga is had. The (highest) place is very difficult to obtain. The men who commit sins go to terrible hell. Those who first take away an elephant, a horse, a cow, a bull, jewels, pearls, gold in the absence (of the owner), and later give gifts, do not go to heaven, where the donors enjoying pleasures (live). The mean ones united with (i.e. doing) such acts are roasted in hell. Thus O Yudhisthira, (I have told about) yoga, pious acts and a donor. Whether it is true or not, or whether its fruit is there or not, I shall offer the explanation, so that he can on his own obtain (them).

 

CHAPTER FORTYSEVEN

Prayaga Again

Markandeya said:

1-5. O king, hear again (about) the greatness of Prayaga. There are many holy places and other auspicious mountains like Naimisa, Puskara, Gotfrtha, Sindhusagara, Kuruksetra, Gaya, and Gangasagara. The wise say that ten thousand holy places and thirty crore others are always situated at Prayaga. There are three fire-vessels, from which Ganga, led by all (other) holy places has set out from Prayaga. The goddess (Yamuna), the daughter of the Sun is well-known in the three worlds. Ganga causing people to enjoy, stays (here) with Yamuna.

6-11. Prayaga, said to be the hip of the earth, is in between (i.e. at the confluence of) Ganga and Yamuna. The thirty and a half crores which Vayu has proclaimed, do not deserve (i.e. are not equal to) even its sixteenth part. Whatever is in heaven, on the earth (or) in the atmosphere — all that is said to be Ganga (only). Prayaga, Samadhisthana, the two (nagas) Kambala and Asvatara, and the (holy place) which is (called) Bhogavati, are the altar of Prajapati. O Yudhisthira, gods and sacrifices are there in an embodied form. The sages having penance as their wealth, worship Prayaga. Gods and kings having much wealth, perform sacrifices (there). None is more auspicious than that in the three worlds, O descendant of Bharata. Due to its prowess, it is more powerful than all (other) holy places, O lord. There are ten thousand holy places and thirty crore other holy places.

12-20. The truth is, that place where the illustrious Ganga is (flowing) is a penance-grove. That (region) which resorts to the bank of Ganga, should be known as the land of siddhas. A man should whisper this into the ears of the twice-born, the good, his own son, friends, or the disciple who follows him. This is blessed, this leads to heaven, this should be practised, this is auspicious, this is meritorious, this is charming, this is holy, this is the best course of conduct. This is the secret of the sages, which destroys all sins. A brahmana, meditating on it and having remembered it would obtain purity. He who, always being pure hears about this holy place everyday, obtains (the faculty) of remembering his former briths and rejoices in heaven. These holy places are reached by the good who follow the desires of the wise. O descendant of Kuru, bathe at the holy places. Do not have a crooked mind. Being asked by you, I have properly told it to you. All the manes and the great-grandsires that are liberated do not deserve (i.e. are not equal to) (even) the sixteenth part of Prayaga. Thus the (path of) knowledge and (that of) yoga and a holy place, O Yudhisthira, are secured after great trouble. Then they go to the highest position. People by remembering Prayaga go to heaven.

 

CHAPTER FORTYEIGHT

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