Kurma Purana — Purva Vibhaga — Chapter 34

KuP 1 34.1

ऋषय ऊचुः माहात्म्यमविमुक्तस्य यथावत् तदुदीरितम् । इदानीं तु प्रयागस्य माहात्म्यं ब्रूहि सुव्रत

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ māhātmyamavimuktasya yathāvat tadudīritam / idānīṃ tu prayāgasya māhātmyaṃ brūhi suvrata

The seers said: The greatness of Avimukta has been duly recounted; but now tell us the greatness of Prayāga, O you of good vows.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.2

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

yāni tīrthāni tatraiva viśrutāni mahānti vai / idānīṃ kathayāsmākaṃ sūta sarvārthavid bhavān

Those sacred fords there which are renowned and great—tell us of them now, Sūta; you are the knower of all things.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.3

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

sūta uvāca śṛṇudhvamṛṣayaḥ sarve vistareṇa bravīmi vaḥ / prayāgasya ca māhātmyaṃ yatra devaḥ pitāmahaḥ

Sūta said: Hear, all you seers, I shall tell you at length the greatness of Prayāga also, where the god the Grandfather (dwells).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.4

मार्कण्डेयेन कथितं कौन्तेयाय महात्मने । यथा युधिष्ठिरायैतत् तद्वक्ष्ये भवतामहम्

mārkaṇḍeyena kathitaṃ kaunteyāya mahātmane / yathā yudhiṣṭhirāyaitat tadvakṣye bhavatāmaham

As it was told by Mārkaṇḍeya to the great-souled son of Kuntī, to Yudhiṣṭhira, that I shall tell to you.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.5

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

nihatya kauravāna sarvān bhrātṛbhiḥ saha pārthivaḥ / śokena mahātāviṣṭā mumoha sa yudhiṣṭhiraḥ

Having slain all the Kauravas, the king together with his brothers—that Yudhiṣṭhira, seized by great grief, fainted.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.6

अचिरेणाथ कालेन मार्कण्डेयो महातपाः । संप्राप्तो हास्तिनपुरं राजद्वारे स तिष्ठति

acireṇātha kālena mārkaṇḍeyo mahātapāḥ / saṃprāpto hāstinapuraṃ rājadvāre sa tiṣṭhati

Then in no long time Mārkaṇḍeya of great austerity arrived at Hāstinapura; he stands at the palace gate.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.7

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

dvārapālo 'pi taṃ dṛṣṭvā rājñaḥ kathitavān drutam / mārkaṇḍeyo draṣṭumicchaṃstvāmāste dvāryasau muniḥ

And the gatekeeper, seeing him, quickly told the king: "This sage Mārkaṇḍeya, wishing to see you, waits at the gate."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.8

त्वरितो धर्मपुत्रस्तु द्वारमेत्याह तत्परम् । स्वागतं ते महाप्राज्ञ स्वागतं ते महामुने

tvarito dharmaputrastu dvārametyāha tatparam / svāgataṃ te mahāprājña svāgataṃ te mahāmune

Then the son of Dharma, hastening, came to the gate and said to him at once: "Welcome to you, greatly wise one; welcome to you, great sage.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.9

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

adya me saphalaṃ janma adya me tāritaṃ kulam / adya me pitarastuṣṭāstvayi tuṣṭe mahāmune

Today my birth has borne fruit, today my family has been carried across; today my ancestors are pleased, since you are pleased, great sage."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.10

सिंहासनमुपस्थाप्य पादशौचार्चनादिभिः । युधिष्ठिरो महात्मेति पूजयामास तं मुनिम्

siṃhāsanamupasthāpya pādaśaucārcanādibhiḥ / yudhiṣṭhiro mahātmeti pūjayāmāsa taṃ munim

Having offered (him) a lion-throne, with the washing of his feet, worship and the rest, Yudhiṣṭhira honoured that sage, (thinking) "he is great-souled."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.11

मार्कण्डेयस्ततस्तुष्टः प्रोवाच स युधिष्ठिरम् । किमर्थं मुह्यसे विद्वन् सर्वं ज्ञात्वाहमागतः

mārkaṇḍeyastatastuṣṭaḥ provāca sa yudhiṣṭhiram / kimarthaṃ muhyase vidvan sarvaṃ jñātvāhamāgataḥ

Then Mārkaṇḍeya, pleased, said to Yudhiṣṭhira: "Why do you grieve in bewilderment, learned one? I have come knowing everything."

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.12

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

tato yudhiṣṭhiro rājā praṇamyāha mahāmunim / kathaya tvaṃ samāsena yena mucyeta kilbiṣaiḥ

Then king Yudhiṣṭhira bowed and said to the great sage: "Tell (me) in brief that by which one may be freed from sins.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.13

निहता वहवो युद्धे पुंसो निरपराधिनः । अस्माभिः कौरवैः सार्धं प्रसङ्गान्मुनिपुङ्गव

nihatā vahavo yuddhe puṃso niraparādhinaḥ / asmābhiḥ kauravaiḥ sārdhaṃ prasaṅgānmunipuṅgava

Many men, guiltless, were slain in the battle by us together with the Kauravas, by force of circumstance, O bull among sages.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.14

येन हिंसासमुद्भूताज्जन्मान्तरकृतादपि । मुच्यते पातकादस्मात् तद् भवान् वक्तुमर्हति

yena hiṃsāsamudbhūtājjanmāntarakṛtādapi / mucyate pātakādasmāt tad bhavān vaktumarhati

By what (means) one is freed from this sin, arisen from killing and even from that done in another birth—that you ought to tell.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.15

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

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca śṛṇu rājan mahābhāga yanmāṃ pṛcchasi bhārat / prayāgagamanaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ narāṇāṃ pāpanāśanam

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Listen, O king, greatly fortunate one, Bhārata, to what you ask me: going to Prayāga is the best (of pilgrimages), destroyer of men's sins.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.16

तत्र देवो महादेवो रुद्रो विश्वामरेश्वरः । समास्ते भगवान् ब्रह्मा स्वयंभूरपि दैवदैः

tatra devo mahādevo rudro viśvāmareśvaraḥ / samāste bhagavān brahmā svayaṃbhūrapi daivadaiḥ

There dwells the god Mahādeva, Rudra, lord of all the immortals, and the Lord Brahmā, the self-existent one, together with the gods.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.17

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

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca bhagavañcchrotumicchāmi prayāgagamane phalam / mṛtānāṃ kā gatistatra snātānāmapi kiṃ phalam

Yudhiṣṭhira said: Lord, I wish to hear the fruit of going to Prayāga. What is the destination of those who die there, and what is the fruit for those who bathe there too?

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.18

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

ye vasanti prayāge tu brūhi teṣāṃ tu kiṃ phalam / bhavatā viditaṃ hyetat tanme brūhi namo 'stu te

And tell what fruit is theirs who dwell at Prayāga. This is indeed known to you; tell it to me — homage be to you.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.19

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

mārkaṇḍeya uvāca kathayiṣyāmi te vatsa yā ceṣṭā yacca tatphalam / purā maharṣibhiḥ samyak kathyamānaṃ mayā śrutam

Mārkaṇḍeya said: I shall tell you, dear child, what the practice is and what its fruit — as it was rightly told long ago by the great sages, and heard by me.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.20

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

etat prajāpatikṣetraṃ triṣu lokeṣu viśrutam / atra snātvā divaṃ yānti ye mṛtāste 'punarbhavāḥ

This is the field of Prajāpati, renowned in the three worlds. Having bathed here they go to heaven; those who die (here) are not born again.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.21

तत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवा रक्षां कुर्वन्ति संगताः । बहून्यन्यानि तीर्थानि सर्वपापापहानि तु

tatra brahmādayo devā rakṣāṃ kurvanti saṃgatāḥ / bahūnyanyāni tīrthāni sarvapāpāpahāni tu

There Brahmā and the other gods, assembled together, keep guard. There are many other sacred fords too, which remove all sins.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.22

कथितुं नेह शक्नोमि बहुवर्षशतैरपि । संक्षेपेण प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रयागस्येह कीर्तनम्

kathituṃ neha śaknomi bahuvarṣaśatairapi / saṃkṣepeṇa pravakṣyāmi prayāgasyeha kīrtanam

I could not tell (of them) here even in many hundreds of years. In brief I shall proclaim here the praise of Prayāga.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.23

षष्टिर्धनुः सहस्त्राणि यानि रक्षन्ति जाह्नवीम् । यमुनां रक्षति सदा सविता सप्तवाहनः

ṣaṣṭirdhanuḥ sahastrāṇi yāni rakṣanti jāhnavīm / yamunāṃ rakṣati sadā savitā saptavāhanaḥ

Sixty thousand bows (of gods?) guard the Jāhnavī; and the sun with his seven steeds ever guards the Yamunā.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain

KuP 1 34.24

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

prayāge tu viśeṣeṇa svayaṃ vasati vāsavaḥ / maṇḍalaṃ rakṣati hariḥ sarvadevaiśca sammitam

But at Prayāga in particular Vāsava himself dwells; Hari, together with all the gods, guards the whole circuit.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.25

न्यग्रोधं रक्षते नित्यं शूलपाणिर्महेश्वरः । स्थानं रक्षन्ति वै देवाः सर्वपापहरं शुभम्

nyagrodhaṃ rakṣate nityaṃ śūlapāṇirmaheśvaraḥ / sthānaṃ rakṣanti vai devāḥ sarvapāpaharaṃ śubham

Maheśvara, trident in hand, ever guards the banyan tree; and the gods guard the auspicious place that removes all sin.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.26

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

svakarmaṇāvṛto loko naiva gacchati tatpadam / svalpaṃ svalpataraṃ pāpaṃ yadā tasya narādhipa / prayāgaṃ smaramāṇasya sarvamāyāti saṃkṣayam

A man enveloped by his own (past) deeds does not reach that place at all. When, O lord of men, his sin becomes small and smaller still, then, as he remembers Prayāga, all of it comes to destruction.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.27

दर्शनात् तस्य तीर्थस्य नाम संकीर्तनादपि । मुत्तिकालम्भनाद् वापि नरः पापात् प्रमुच्यते

darśanāt tasya tīrthasya nāma saṃkīrtanādapi / muttikālambhanād vāpi naraḥ pāpāt pramucyate

By seeing that sacred ford, or even by uttering its name, or by taking up its clay, a man is released from sin.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.28

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

pañca kuṇḍāni rājendra yeṣāṃ madhye tu jāhnavī / prayāgaṃ viśataḥ puṃsaḥ pāpaṃ naśyati tatkṣaṇāt

There are five pools, O best of kings, in the midst of which is the Jāhnavī. The sin of a man entering Prayāga perishes that very moment.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.29

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

yojanānāṃ sahastreṣu gaṅgāṃ yaḥ smarate naraḥ / api duṣkṛtakarmāsau labhate paramāṃ gatim

The man who remembers the Gaṅgā (even) from a thousand leagues away — even he, an evildoer, attains the highest goal.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.30

कीर्तनान्मुच्यते पापाद् दृष्ट्वा भद्राणि पश्यति । तथोपस्पृश्य राजेन्द्र स्वर्गलोके महीयते

kīrtanānmucyate pāpād dṛṣṭvā bhadrāṇi paśyati / tathopaspṛśya rājendra svargaloke mahīyate

By praising (her) one is freed from sin; by seeing (her) one sees good things; and by touching (her), O lord of kings, one is honored in the world of heaven.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.31

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

vyādhito yadi vā dīnaḥ krūddho vāpi bhavennaraḥ / gaṅgāyamunamāsādya tyajet prāṇān prayatnataḥ

If a man be diseased, or wretched, or even angry, let him come to the Gaṅgā-Yamunā (confluence) and deliberately give up his life.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.32

दीप्तकाञ्चनवर्णाभैर्विमानैर्भानुवर्णिभिः । ईप्सितांल्लभते कामान् वदन्ति मुनिपुङ्गवाः

dīptakāñcanavarṇābhairvimānairbhānuvarṇibhiḥ / īpsitāṃllabhate kāmān vadanti munipuṅgavāḥ

With celestial cars of the color of blazing gold, shining like the sun, he obtains the desires he wished for — so say the foremost of sages.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.33

सर्वरत्नमयैर्दिव्यैर्नानाध्वजसमाकुलैः । वराङ्गनासमाकीर्णैर्मोदते शुभलक्षणः

sarvaratnamayairdivyairnānādhvajasamākulaiḥ / varāṅganāsamākīrṇairmodate śubhalakṣaṇaḥ

With divine (cars) made all of jewels, thronged with many banners, crowded with lovely women, the man of auspicious marks rejoices.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.34

गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषैः प्रसुप्तः प्रतिबुध्यते । यावन्न स्मरते जन्म तापत् स्वर्गे महीयते

gītavāditranirghoṣaiḥ prasuptaḥ pratibudhyate / yāvanna smarate janma tāpat svarge mahīyate

Asleep, he is awakened by the sounds of song and instruments; so long as he does not remember (his former) birth, so long is he honored in heaven.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.35

तस्मात् स्वर्गात् परिभ्रष्टः क्षीणकर्मा नरोत्तम । हिरण्यरत्नसंपूर्णे समृद्धे जायते कुले

tasmāt svargāt paribhraṣṭaḥ kṣīṇakarmā narottama / hiraṇyaratnasaṃpūrṇe samṛddhe jāyate kule

Fallen from that heaven, his (store of) karma exhausted, O best of men, he is born in a prosperous family full of gold and jewels.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.36

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

tadeva smarate tīrthaṃ smaraṇāt tatra gacchati / deśastho yadi vāraṇye videśe yadi vā gṛhe

He remembers that very holy place, and by that remembrance he goes there — whether he is in (his own) country or in the forest, in a foreign land or at home.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.37

प्रयागं स्मरमाणस्तु यस्तु प्राणान् परित्यजेत् । ब्रह्मलोकमवाप्नोति वदन्ति मुनिपुङ्गवाः

prayāgaṃ smaramāṇastu yastu prāṇān parityajet / brahmalokamavāpnoti vadanti munipuṅgavāḥ

But he who gives up his life-breaths while remembering Prayāga attains the world of Brahmā — so the foremost of sages declare.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.38

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

sarvakāmaphalā vṛkṣā mahī yatra hiraṇmayī / ṛṣayo munayaḥ siddhāstatra loke sa gacchati

Where the trees bear as fruit all that is desired and the earth is golden, where the seers, the sages and the perfected ones (dwell) — to that world he goes.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.39

स्त्रीसहस्त्राकुले रम्ये मन्दाकिन्यास्तटे शुभे । मोदते मुनिभिः सार्धं स्वकृतेनेह कर्मणा

strīsahastrākule ramye mandākinyāstaṭe śubhe / modate munibhiḥ sārdhaṃ svakṛteneha karmaṇā

He rejoices together with the sages, by virtue of the deed he did here, on the lovely auspicious bank of the Mandākinī, thronged with thousands of women.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.40

सिद्धचारणगन्धर्वैः पूज्यते दिवि दैवतैः । ततः स्वर्गात् परिभ्रष्टो जम्बुद्वीपपतिर्भवेत्

siddhacāraṇagandharvaiḥ pūjyate divi daivataiḥ / tataḥ svargāt paribhraṣṭo jambudvīpapatirbhavet

He is honoured in heaven by the Siddhas, Cāraṇas, Gandharvas and the gods; then, fallen from that heaven, he becomes lord of Jambūdvīpa.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.41

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

tataḥ śubhāni karmāṇi cintayānaḥ punaḥ punaḥ / guṇavān vittasaṃpanno bhavatīha na saṃśayaḥ / karmaṇā manasā vācā satyadharmapratiṣṭhitaḥ

Then, pondering again and again upon auspicious deeds, he becomes here endowed with virtues and rich in wealth — there is no doubt of it — established in truth and dharma in deed, in mind and in speech.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.42

गङ्गायमुनयोर्मध्ये यस्तु ग्रामं प्रतीच्छति । सुवर्णमथ मुक्तां वा तथैवान्यान् प्रतिग्रहान्

gaṅgāyamunayormadhye yastu grāmaṃ pratīcchati / suvarṇamatha muktāṃ vā tathaivānyān pratigrahān

But he who, between the Gaṅgā and the Yamunā, accepts a village, or gold, or a pearl, or likewise other gifts —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.43

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

svakārye pitṛkārye vā devatābhyarcane 'pi vā / niṣphalaṃ tasya tat tīrthaṃ yāvat tatphalamaśnute

whether for his own purpose, or for a rite for the ancestors, or even for the worship of the gods — for him that holy place is fruitless, as long as he is enjoying the fruit of that (gift).

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.44

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

atastīrthe na gṛhṇīyāt puṇyeṣvāyataneṣu ca / nimitteṣu ca sarveṣu apramatto dvijo bhavet

Therefore at a holy place one should not accept (gifts), nor in sacred sanctuaries; and in all circumstances the twice-born should be free of negligence.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.45

कपिलां पाटलावर्णां यस्तु धेनुं प्रयच्छति । स्वर्णशृङ्गीं रौप्यखुरां चैलकण्ठां पयस्विनीम्

kapilāṃ pāṭalāvarṇāṃ yastu dhenuṃ prayacchati / svarṇaśṛṅgīṃ raupyakhurāṃ cailakaṇṭhāṃ payasvinīm

He who bestows a tawny, pink-coloured milk-cow, with gilded horns, silvered hooves, a cloth about its neck —

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition

KuP 1 34.46

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

yāvad romāṇi tasyā vai santi gātreṣu sattama / tāvad varṣasahastrāṇi rudraloke mahīyate

as many hairs as there are on her limbs, O best (of men), for that many thousands of years he is honoured in the world of Rudra.

AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition