Shloka 4
Yugapramāṇa–Kaliyuga-lakṣaṇa–Pralaya-kathā
Markandeya’s Account of Yugas, Kali Signs, and Dissolution
प्राप्स्पयाम: फलमत्यन्तं बहुलं निरुपद्रवम् । अरण्यगमन् क्षिप्रं रोचतां वो गुणाधिकम्,“हमलोग वनमें रहकर (तपद्दारा) धर्मका बहुत अधिक उपद्रवशून्य फल पा सकते हैं। अतः शीघ्र वनमें चलनेका विचार तुम सब लोगोंको रुचिकर होना चाहिये; क्योंकि ग्राम्य- जीवनकी अपेक्षा वनमें रहना अधिक लाभप्रद है”
prāpsyāmaḥ phalam atyantaṃ bahulaṃ nirupadravam | araṇyagaman kṣipraṃ rocatāṃ vo guṇādhikam ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: “By dwelling in the forest and practicing austerity, we can attain a supremely great reward—abundant and free from disturbance. Therefore, let the thought of going quickly to the forest be pleasing to you all, for life in the forest is more beneficial than a village-bound way of living.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
A life oriented toward austerity and simplicity—symbolized by dwelling in the forest—yields a higher, more stable ‘fruit’ (phala) that is comparatively free from worldly disturbances; thus one should prefer what is guṇādhika (more meritorious) over comfortable but distracting modes of life.
Mārkaṇḍeya addresses his listeners and recommends prompt departure to the forest, arguing that forest-dwelling and tapas lead to abundant, trouble-free spiritual benefit, superior to the gains of ordinary settled (village) life.