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 ||
マールカンデーヤは語った。「森に住み、苦行を修すれば、きわめて大いなる果報を得られる——豊かで、災いの妨げもない。ゆえに、速やかに森へ赴こうという思いを、汝ら皆が喜ぶべきである。村里に縛られた暮らしより、森の生活のほうがはるかに益が大きいのだから。」
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.