Shloka 2

Yugapramāṇa–Kaliyuga-lakṣaṇa–Pralaya-kathā

Markandeya’s Account of Yugas, Kali Signs, and Dissolution

Devanagari script

तमत्रिर्गन्तुमारेभे वित्तार्थमिति नः श्रुतम्‌ । भूयो<र्थ नानुरुध्यत्‌ स धर्मव्यक्तिनिदर्शनात्‌,उन दिनों महात्मा अत्रिने धन माँगनेकी इच्छासे उनके पास जानेका विचार किया, यह बात हमारे सुननेमें आयी है; परंतु ऐसा करनेसे उनको अपना धर्मात्मापन प्रकट करना पड़ता। इसलिये फिर उन्होंने धनके लिये अनुरोध नहीं किया

Transliteration

tam atrir gantum ārebhe vittārtham iti naḥ śrutam | bhūyo 'rthaṁ nānurudhyat sa dharmavyakti-nidarśanāt ||

Translation

マールカンデーヤは語った。「われらが聞くところによれば、聖仙アトリは財を得ようとして彼のもとへ赴こうとした。しかし、そのような願い出は、かえって自らの正しさを世に示すことになりかねぬと見て、彼は金銭を求めて重ねて迫ることはしなかった。」

Word by Word

• {'tam': 'him

• that person (accusative singular)', 'atriḥ': 'Atri (the sage)', 'gantum': 'to go (infinitive)', 'ārebhe': 'began

• set about', 'vitta-artham': 'for the sake of wealth

• with the purpose of obtaining money', 'iti': 'thus

• so (quotative particle)', 'naḥ': 'of us

• to us', 'śrutam': 'heard

• it is heard/known (past passive participle)', 'bhūyaḥ': 'again

• further', 'artham': 'wealth

• also ‘purpose’ (here: wealth)', 'na anurudhyat': 'did not request

• did not press/urge', 'sa': 'he', 'dharma': 'righteousness

• moral law', 'vyakti': 'manifestation

• display', 'nidarśanāt': 'because of/for the reason of showing

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Atri

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights restraint in seeking material gain: even when need or opportunity exists, a virtuous person avoids actions that would turn righteousness into self-advertisement. Dharma is to be lived, not displayed for recognition.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya reports a tradition that Atri intended to approach a certain person to ask for wealth, but then refrained from repeating the request, since doing so would amount to showcasing his own moral stature.