Shloka 35
Yugapramāṇa–Kaliyuga-lakṣaṇa–Pralaya-kathā
Markandeya’s Account of Yugas, Kali Signs, and Dissolution
दशकोटीर्हिरिण्यस्य रुक्मभारांस्तथा दश । एतद् ददामि वितप्रर्षे सर्वज्ञस्त्वं मतो हि मे
daśakoṭīr hiraṇyasya rukmabhārāṁs tathā daśa | etad dadāmi vitaprarṣe sarvajñas tvaṁ mato hi me ||
قال ماركانديّا: «عشرُ كروْر من الذهب، وكذلك عشرُ حِمْلاتٍ من الذهب المُصفّى—هذا أهبُه لك، أيها الزاهدُ عند شجرة الأشفَتْثا (aśvattha). فإني أراك، في حكمي، حقًّا عليمًا بكل شيء.»
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dāna (generous giving) joined with discernment and reverence: a worthy recipient—recognized as wise or ‘all-knowing’—is honored with substantial gifts, reflecting the dharmic ideal that wealth gains ethical value when offered respectfully to spiritual merit.
Mārkaṇḍeya speaks to an ascetic addressed by an epithet (vitaprarṣi), offering an immense donation—‘ten crores of gold’ and ‘ten loads of refined gold’—and justifies the gift by affirming the recipient’s exceptional knowledge and authority.