Shloka 7
Yugapramāṇa–Kaliyuga-lakṣaṇa–Pralaya-kathā
Markandeya’s Account of Yugas, Kali Signs, and Dissolution
भृत्यान् सुतान् संविभज्य ततो व्रज यथेप्सितम् । एष वै परमो धर्मों धर्मविद्धिरुदाहृत:,वे राजर्षि इन दिनों यज्ञ कर रहे हैं, अत: इस अवसरपर यदि आप उनसे माँगेंगे तो वे आपको अधिक धन देंगे। ब्रह्मर्ष! वहाँसे प्रचुर धन लाकर भरण-पोषण करनेयोग्य इन पुत्रोंको बाँट दीजिये; फिर इच्छानुसार वनको चलिये। धर्मज्ञ महात्माओंने यही परम धर्म बताया है!
bhṛtyān sutān saṃvibhajya tato vraja yathepsitam | eṣa vai paramo dharmo dharmaviddhir udāhṛtaḥ ||
马尔坎德耶说道：“先为你的眷属与儿子作妥善分配，然后随你所愿而去。这确是至高的达摩，乃真正知达摩者所宣说。”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Before pursuing one’s personal spiritual aim (such as leaving for the forest), one must first fulfill obligations to dependants and family by providing for them fairly; this responsible ordering of duties is presented as ‘the highest dharma’ by authorities on dharma.
Mārkaṇḍeya advises the listener that departure to the forest should come only after arranging proper support for those under one’s care—servants/dependants and sons—emphasizing ethical responsibility as the foundation for later renunciation.