Matsyapurana 105

English (machine translation) 105

Language: English

105.1

Mārkaṇḍeya said:
Listen, O king, further still to the greatness of Prayāga,
hearing which one is freed from all sins, there is no doubt about this.

105.2

For Prayāga is declared to be the place for the distressed, the poor, and those of firm resolve;
yet it should never be spoken of [to the unworthy].

105.3

Whether a person is diseased, or wretched, or old,
whoever gives up life between the Gaṅgā and the Yamunā,

105.4

on celestial chariots shining like blazing gold, resembling the sun,
that human sports in heaven among Gandharvas and Apsarases.

105.5

He attains desired wishes, so the bull-like sages say;
with divine [vehicles] made of all jewels, crowded with various flags,
and filled with excellent women of auspicious marks, he rejoices.

105.6

Asleep, he is awakened by the sounds of song and instrumental music;
as long as he does not remember his [earthly] birth, so long is he glorified in heaven.

Then, fallen from heaven, his karma exhausted, fallen from the sky,
he is born in a prosperous family, filled with gold and jewels;
he remembers that very sacred place, and from remembrance he goes there.

105.8

Whether residing in his own country, or in a forest, or living abroad, or at home,
whoever gives up life even while remembering Prayāga,
attains the world of Brahmā, so say the bull-like sages.

105.9

Where trees yield all desired fruits, where the earth is golden,
where sages, hermits, and Siddhas dwell, to that world he goes.

105.10

Surrounded by thousands of women on the charming, auspicious bank of the Mandākinī,
he rejoices together with the sages by virtue of his well-performed deed in this world.

105.11

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

105.12

Then, repeatedly reflecting on auspicious deeds,
he becomes virtuous and endowed with wealth in this world, without a doubt.

105.13

Established in righteousness and truth by action, mind, and speech,
whoever gives away a cow between the Gaṅgā and the Yamunā,

105.14

or gold, jewels, and pearls, or any other gift,
for one's own duty, or an ancestral duty, or in worshipping the deities—
that sacred place is fruitful for him, and he obtains religious merit as is proper.

105.15

In this way, a twice-born should not accept gifts at a sacred place or in holy shrines,
and on all occasions he should remain vigilant.

105.16

Whoever gives a tawny, reddish-brown milch cow,
with golden horns, silver hooves, and a bronze milking vessel, yielding much milk—

105.17

At Prayāga, having caused a worthy Brāhmaṇa learned in the Vedas,
clad in white garments, calm, knowing dharma, and master of the Vedas, to receive [it] according to rule,

105.18

that cow should be given to him at the confluence of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā,
along with precious garments and various jewels.

105.19

As many hairs as are on the body of that cow, O best of men,
for that many thousands of years he is glorified in the heavenly world.

105.20

Wherever he is born, that cow is born to him;
and by that act he does not see that dreadful hell;
reaching the Northern Kurus, he rejoices for endless time.

105.21

Even out of hundreds of thousands of cows, one should give a single milch cow;
a single cow carries across sons, wives, and servants.

105.22

Therefore, among all gifts, the gift of a cow is preeminent.
In an impassable, rugged, and terrible [path], when great sins arise,
the cow alone provides protection; therefore it should be given to an excellent twice-born.

Translations (1)

The Matsya Puranam — A Taluqdar of Oudh 1916, English

Linked texts (1)

Matsyapurāṇa — Vyāsa, Sanskrit