Before Verses
Devanagari
Verse Text
Synonyms
Translation
Purport
CHAPTER EIGHT
Mārkaṇḍeya’s Prayers to Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi
This chapter describes how Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi performed austerities, defeated by his potency Cupid and all his associates, and offered prayers to Lord Śrī Hari in His forms of Nara and Nārāyaṇa.
Śrī Śaunaka was confused about the extraordinarily long life span of Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya, who had taken birth in Śaunaka’s own dynasty yet who had moved about alone in the ocean of devastation millions of years previously and seen a wonderful young child lying upon a banyan leaf. It seemed to Śaunaka that Mārkaṇḍeya had lived through two days of Brahmā, and he asked Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī to explain this.
Suta Gosvāmī replied that the sage Mārkaṇḍeya, after receiving the purificatory ritual of brahminical initiation from his father, had fixed himself in the vow of lifelong celibacy. He then worshiped the Supreme Lord Hari for six lifetimes of Manu. In the seventh manvantara, Lord Indra sent Kāmadeva (Cupid) and his associates to interrupt the sage’s austerities. But Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi defeated them by the potency generated from his penance.
Then, to show mercy to Mārkaṇḍeya, Lord Śrī Hari appeared before him in the form of Nara-Nārāyaṇa. Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya prostrated himself in obeisance and then worshiped the Lords by offering Them comfortable seats, water for washing Their feet, and other respectful presentations. He then prayed, “O Almighty Lord, You bring to life the vital air of all creatures, and You also protect the three worlds, vanquish distress and award liberation. You never allow those who have taken shelter of You to be defeated by any kind of misery. Attaining Your lotus feet is the only auspicious goal for the conditioned souls, and service to You fulfills all their desires. Your pastimes, enacted in the mode of pure goodness, can award everyone salvation from material life. Therefore those who are intelligent worship Your personal form of pure goodness named Śrī Nārāyaṇa, along with Nara, who represents Your unalloyed devotee.
“The living entity bewildered by illusion can directly understand You if he receives the knowledge presented in the Vedas and promulgated by You, the spiritual master of the entire universe. Even great thinkers like Brahmā are simply bewildered when they try to understand Your identity by struggling on the path of sāṅkhya-yoga. You Yourself manifest the proponents of Sāṅkhya and other philosophies, and thus Your true personal identity remains hidden beneath the designative covering of the jīva soul. I offer my homage to You, the Mahāpuruṣa.”
Devanagari
श्रीशौनक उवाच
सूत जीव चिरं साधो वद नो वदतां वर ।
तमस्यपारे भ्रमतां नृणां त्वं पारदर्शन: ॥ १ ॥
सूत जीव चिरं साधो वद नो वदतां वर ।
तमस्यपारे भ्रमतां नृणां त्वं पारदर्शन: ॥ १ ॥
Verse text
śrī-śaunaka uvāca
sūta jīva ciraṁ sādho
vada no vadatāṁ vara
tamasy apāre bhramatāṁ
nṝṇāṁ tvaṁ pāra-darśanaḥ
sūta jīva ciraṁ sādho
vada no vadatāṁ vara
tamasy apāre bhramatāṁ
nṝṇāṁ tvaṁ pāra-darśanaḥ
Synonyms
śrī-śaunakaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śaunaka said; sūta — O Sūta Gosvāmī; jīva — may you live; ciram — for a long time; sādho — O saint; vada — please speak; naḥ — to us; vadatām — of speakers; vara — O you who are the best; tamasi — in darkness; apāre — unbounded; bhramatām — who are wandering; nṝṇām — for men; tvam — you; pāra-darśanaḥ — the seer of the opposite shore.
Translation
Śrī Śaunaka said: O Sūta, may you live a long life! O saintly one, best of speakers, please continue speaking to us. Indeed, only you can show men the path out of the ignorance in which they are wandering.
Purport
According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, the sages saw that Sūta Gosvāmī was about to end his narration of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and thus they urged him to first tell the story of Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi.
Devanagari
आहुश्चिरायुषमृषिं मृकण्डतनयं जना: ।
य: कल्पान्ते ह्युर्वरितो येन ग्रस्तमिदं जगत् ॥ २ ॥
स वा अस्मत्कुलोत्पन्न: कल्पेऽस्मिन् भार्गवर्षभ: ।
नैवाधुनापि भूतानां सम्प्लव: कोऽपि जायते ॥ ३ ॥
एक एवार्णवे भ्राम्यन् ददर्श पुरुषं किल ।
वटपत्रपुटे तोकं शयानं त्वेकमद्भुतम् ॥ ४ ॥
एष न: संशयो भूयान् सूत कौतूहलं यत: ।
तं नश्छिन्धि महायोगिन् पुराणेष्वपि सम्मत: ॥ ५ ॥
य: कल्पान्ते ह्युर्वरितो येन ग्रस्तमिदं जगत् ॥ २ ॥
स वा अस्मत्कुलोत्पन्न: कल्पेऽस्मिन् भार्गवर्षभ: ।
नैवाधुनापि भूतानां सम्प्लव: कोऽपि जायते ॥ ३ ॥
एक एवार्णवे भ्राम्यन् ददर्श पुरुषं किल ।
वटपत्रपुटे तोकं शयानं त्वेकमद्भुतम् ॥ ४ ॥
एष न: संशयो भूयान् सूत कौतूहलं यत: ।
तं नश्छिन्धि महायोगिन् पुराणेष्वपि सम्मत: ॥ ५ ॥
Verse text
āhuś cirāyuṣam ṛṣiṁ
mṛkaṇḍu-tanayaṁ janāḥ
yaḥ kalpānte hy urvarito
yena grastam idaṁ jagat
mṛkaṇḍu-tanayaṁ janāḥ
yaḥ kalpānte hy urvarito
yena grastam idaṁ jagat
sa vā asmat-kulotpannaḥ
kalpe ’smin bhārgavarṣabhaḥ
naivādhunāpi bhūtānāṁ
samplavaḥ ko ’pi jāyate
kalpe ’smin bhārgavarṣabhaḥ
naivādhunāpi bhūtānāṁ
samplavaḥ ko ’pi jāyate
eka evārṇave bhrāmyan
dadarśa puruṣaṁ kila
vaṭa-patra-puṭe tokaṁ
śayānaṁ tv ekam adbhutam
dadarśa puruṣaṁ kila
vaṭa-patra-puṭe tokaṁ
śayānaṁ tv ekam adbhutam
eṣa naḥ saṁśayo bhūyān
sūta kautūhalaṁ yataḥ
taṁ naś chindhi mahā-yogin
purāṇeṣv api sammataḥ
sūta kautūhalaṁ yataḥ
taṁ naś chindhi mahā-yogin
purāṇeṣv api sammataḥ
Synonyms
āhuḥ — they say; cira-āyuṣam — having an extraordinarily long life span; ṛṣim — the sage; mṛkaṇḍu-tanayam — the son of Mṛkaṇḍu; janāḥ — people; yaḥ — who; kalpa-ante — at the end of the day of Lord Brahmā; hi — indeed; urvaritaḥ — remaining alone; yena — by which (annihilation); grastam — seized; idam — this; jagat — entire universe; saḥ — he, Mārkaṇḍeya; vai — indeed; asmat-kula — in my own family; utpannaḥ — born; kalpe — in the day of Brahmā; asmin — this; bhārgava-ṛṣabhaḥ — the most eminent descendant of Bhṛgu Muni; na — not; eva — certainly; adhunā — in our age; api — even; bhūtānām — of all creation; samplavaḥ — annihilation by flood; kaḥ — any; api — at all; jāyate — has arisen; ekaḥ — alone; eta — indeed; arṇave — in the great ocean; bhrāmyan — wandering; dadarśa — he saw; puruṣam — a personality; kila — it is said; vaṭa-patra — of a banyan leaf; puṭe — within the fold; tokam — an infant boy; śayānam — lying; tu — but; ekam — one; adbhutam — wonderful; eṣaḥ — this; naḥ — our; saṁśayaḥ — doubt; bhūyān — great; sūta — O Sūta Gosvāmī; kautūhalam — curiosity; yataḥ — due to which; tam — that; naḥ — for us; chindhi — please cut; mahā-yogin — O great yogī; purāneṣu — of the Purāṇas; api — indeed; sammataḥ — universally accepted (as the expert knower).
Translation
Authorities say that Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi, the son of Mṛkaṇḍu, was an exceptionally long-lived sage who was the only survivor at the end of Brahmā’s day, when the entire universe was merged in the flood of annihilation. But this same Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi, the foremost descendant of Bhṛgu, took birth in my own family during the current day of Brahmā, and we have not yet seen any total annihilation in this day of Brahmā. Also, it is well known that Mārkaṇḍeya, while wandering helplessly in the great ocean of annihilation, saw in those fearful waters a wonderful personality — an infant boy lying alone within the fold of a banyan leaf. O Sūta, I am most bewildered and curious about this great sage, Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi. O great yogī, you are universally accepted as the authority on all the Purāṇas. Therefore kindly dispel my confusion.
Purport
Lord Brahmā’s day, consisting of his 12 hours, lasts 4 billion 320 million years, and his night is of the same duration. Apparently Mārkaṇḍeya lived throughout one such day and night and in the following day of Brahmā continued living as the same Mārkaṇḍeya. It seems that when annihilation occurred during Brahmā’s night, the sage wandered throughout the fearful waters of destruction and saw within those waters an extraordinary personality lying on a banyan leaf. All of these mysteries concerning Mārkaṇḍeya will be clarified by Sūta Gosvāmī at the request of the great sages.
Devanagari
सूत उवाच
प्रश्नस्त्वया महर्षेऽयं कृतो लोकभ्रमापह: ।
नारायणकथा यत्र गीता कलिमलापहा ॥ ६ ॥
प्रश्नस्त्वया महर्षेऽयं कृतो लोकभ्रमापह: ।
नारायणकथा यत्र गीता कलिमलापहा ॥ ६ ॥
Verse text
sūta uvāca
praśnas tvayā maharṣe ’yaṁ
kṛto loka-bhramāpahaḥ
nārāyaṇa-kathā yatra
gītā kali-malāpahā
praśnas tvayā maharṣe ’yaṁ
kṛto loka-bhramāpahaḥ
nārāyaṇa-kathā yatra
gītā kali-malāpahā
Synonyms
sūtaḥ uvāca — Sūta Gosvāmī said; praśnaḥ — question; tvayā — by you; mahā-ṛṣe — O great sage, Śaunaka; ayam — this; kṛtaḥ — made; loka — of the entire world; bhrama — the delusion; apahaḥ — which takes away; nārāyaṇa-kathā — discussion of the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa; yatra — in which; gītā — is sung; kali-mala — the contamination of the present Age of Kali; apahā — removing.
Translation
Sūta Gosvāmī said: O great sage Śaunaka, your very question will help remove everyone’s illusion, for it leads to the topics of Lord Nārāyaṇa, which cleanse away the contamination of this Kali age.
Devanagari
प्राप्तद्विजातिसंस्कारो मार्कण्डेय: पितु: क्रमात् ।
छन्दांस्यधीत्य धर्मेण तप:स्वाध्यायसंयुत: ॥ ७ ॥
बृहद्व्रतधर: शान्तो जटिलो वल्कलाम्बर: ।
बिभ्रत् कमण्डलुं दण्डमुपवीतं समेखलम् ॥ ८ ॥
कृष्णाजिनं साक्षसूत्रं कुशांश्च नियमर्द्धये ।
अग्न्यर्कगुरुविप्रात्मस्वर्चयन् सन्ध्ययोर्हरिम् ॥ ९ ॥
सायं प्रात: स गुरवे भैक्ष्यमाहृत्य वाग्यत: ।
बुभुजे गुर्वनुज्ञात: सकृन्नो चेदुपोषित: ॥ १० ॥
एवं तप:स्वाध्यायपरो वर्षाणामयुतायुतम् ।
आराधयन् हृषीकेशं जिग्ये मृत्युं सुदुर्जयम् ॥ ११ ॥
छन्दांस्यधीत्य धर्मेण तप:स्वाध्यायसंयुत: ॥ ७ ॥
बृहद्व्रतधर: शान्तो जटिलो वल्कलाम्बर: ।
बिभ्रत् कमण्डलुं दण्डमुपवीतं समेखलम् ॥ ८ ॥
कृष्णाजिनं साक्षसूत्रं कुशांश्च नियमर्द्धये ।
अग्न्यर्कगुरुविप्रात्मस्वर्चयन् सन्ध्ययोर्हरिम् ॥ ९ ॥
सायं प्रात: स गुरवे भैक्ष्यमाहृत्य वाग्यत: ।
बुभुजे गुर्वनुज्ञात: सकृन्नो चेदुपोषित: ॥ १० ॥
एवं तप:स्वाध्यायपरो वर्षाणामयुतायुतम् ।
आराधयन् हृषीकेशं जिग्ये मृत्युं सुदुर्जयम् ॥ ११ ॥
Verse text
prāpta-dvijāti-saṁskāro
mārkaṇḍeyaḥ pituḥ kramāt
chandāṁsy adhītya dharmeṇa
tapaḥ-svādhyāya-saṁyutaḥ
mārkaṇḍeyaḥ pituḥ kramāt
chandāṁsy adhītya dharmeṇa
tapaḥ-svādhyāya-saṁyutaḥ
bṛhad-vrata-dharaḥ śānto
jaṭilo valkalāmbaraḥ
bibhrat kamaṇḍaluṁ daṇḍam
upavītaṁ sa-mekhalam
jaṭilo valkalāmbaraḥ
bibhrat kamaṇḍaluṁ daṇḍam
upavītaṁ sa-mekhalam
kṛṣṇājinaṁ sākṣa-sūtraṁ
kuśāṁś ca niyamarddhaye
agny-arka-guru-viprātmasv
arcayan sandhyayor harim
kuśāṁś ca niyamarddhaye
agny-arka-guru-viprātmasv
arcayan sandhyayor harim
sāyaṁ prātaḥ sa gurave
bhaikṣyam āhṛtya vāg-yataḥ
bubhuje gurv-anujñātaḥ
sakṛn no ced upoṣitaḥ
bhaikṣyam āhṛtya vāg-yataḥ
bubhuje gurv-anujñātaḥ
sakṛn no ced upoṣitaḥ
evaṁ tapaḥ-svādhyāya-paro
varṣāṇām ayutāyutam
ārādhayan hṛṣīkeśaṁ
jigye mṛtyuṁ su-durjayam
varṣāṇām ayutāyutam
ārādhayan hṛṣīkeśaṁ
jigye mṛtyuṁ su-durjayam
Synonyms
prāpta — having received; dvi-jāti — of second birth; saṁskāraḥ — the purificatory rituals; mārkaṇḍeyaḥ — Mārkaṇḍeya; pituḥ — from his father; kramāt — by proper sequence; chandāṁsi — the Vedic hymns; adhītya — studying; dharmeṇa — along with regulative principles; tapaḥ — in austerities; svādhyāya — and study; saṁyutaḥ — full; bṛhat-vrata — the great vow of lifelong celibacy; dharaḥ — maintaining; śāntaḥ — peaceful; jaṭilaḥ — with matted hair; valkala-ambaraḥ — wearing bark as his clothing; bibhrat — carrying; kamaṇḍalum — a waterpot; daṇḍam — a mendicant’s staff; upavītam — the sacred thread; sa-mekhalam — along with the ritual belt of a brahmacārī; kṛṣṇa-ajinam — the skin of a black deer; sa-akṣa-sūtram — and prayer beads made of lotus seeds; kuśān — kuśa grass; ca — also; niyama-ṛddhaye — to facilitate his spiritual progress; agni — in the form of fire; arka — the sun; guru — the spiritual master; vipra — the brāhmaṇas; ātmasu — and the Supersoul; arcayan — worshiping; sandhyayoḥ — at the beginning and the end of the day; harim — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sāyam — in the evening; prātaḥ — in the early morning; saḥ — he; gurave — unto his spiritual master; bhaikṣyam — alms obtained by begging; āhṛtya — bringing; vāk-yataḥ — with controlled speech; bubhuje — he partook; guru-anujñātaḥ — invited by his spiritual master; sakṛt — once; na — not (invited); u — indeed; cet — if; upoṣitaḥ — fasting; evam — in this way; tapaḥ-svādhyāya-paraḥ — dedicated to austerities and studies of the Vedic literature; varṣāṇām — years; ayuta-ayutam — ten thousand times ten thousand; ārādhayan — worshiping; hṛṣīka-īśam — the supreme master of the senses, Lord Viṣṇu; jigye — he conquered; mṛtyum — death; su-durjayam — impossible to conquer.
Translation
After being purified by his father’s performance of the prescribed rituals leading to Mārkaṇḍeya’s brahminical initiation, Mārkaṇḍeya studied the Vedic hymns and strictly observed the regulative principles. He became advanced in austerity and Vedic knowledge and remained a lifelong celibate. Appearing most peaceful with his matted hair and his clothing made of bark, he furthered his spiritual progress by carrying the mendicant’s waterpot, staff, sacred thread, brahmacārī belt, black deerskin, lotus-seed prayer beads and bundles of kuśa grass. At the sacred junctures of the day he regularly worshiped the Supreme Personality of Godhead in five forms — the sacrificial fire, the sun, his spiritual master, the brāhmaṇas and the Supersoul within his heart. Morning and evening he would go out begging, and upon returning he would present all the food he had collected to his spiritual master. Only when his spiritual master invited him would he silently take his one meal of the day; otherwise he would fast. Thus devoted to austerity and Vedic study, Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi worshiped the supreme master of the senses, the Personality of Godhead, for countless millions of years, and in this way he conquered unconquerable death.
Devanagari
ब्रह्मा भृगुर्भवो दक्षो ब्रह्मपुत्राश्च येऽपरे ।
नृदेवपितृभूतानि तेनासन्नतिविस्मिता: ॥ १२ ॥
नृदेवपितृभूतानि तेनासन्नतिविस्मिता: ॥ १२ ॥
Verse text
brahmā bhṛgur bhavo dakṣo
brahma-putrāś ca ye ’pare
nṛ-deva-pitṛ-bhūtāni
tenāsann ati-vismitāḥ
brahma-putrāś ca ye ’pare
nṛ-deva-pitṛ-bhūtāni
tenāsann ati-vismitāḥ
Synonyms
brahmā — Lord Brahmā; bhṛguḥ — Bhṛgu Muni; bhavaḥ — Lord Śiva; dakṣaḥ — Prajāpati Dakṣa; brahma-putrāḥ — the great sons of Brahmā; ca — and; ye — who; apare — others; nṛ — human beings; deva — demigods; pitṛ — forefathers; bhūtāni — and ghostly spirits; tena — with that (conquest of death); āsan — they all became; ati-vismitāḥ — extremely amazed.
Translation
Lord Brahmā, Bhṛgu Muni, Lord Śiva, Prajāpati Dakṣa, the great sons of Brahmā, and many others among the human beings, demigods, forefathers and ghostly spirits — all were astonished by the achievement of Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi.
Devanagari
इत्थं बृहद्व्रतधरस्तप:स्वाध्यायसंयमै: ।
दध्यावधोक्षजं योगी ध्वस्तक्लेशान्तरात्मना ॥ १३ ॥
दध्यावधोक्षजं योगी ध्वस्तक्लेशान्तरात्मना ॥ १३ ॥
Verse text
itthaṁ bṛhad-vrata-dharas
tapaḥ-svādhyāya-saṁyamaiḥ
dadhyāv adhokṣajaṁ yogī
dhvasta-kleśāntarātmanā
tapaḥ-svādhyāya-saṁyamaiḥ
dadhyāv adhokṣajaṁ yogī
dhvasta-kleśāntarātmanā
Synonyms
ittham — in this manner; bṛhat-vrata-dharaḥ — maintaining the vow of celibacy, brahmacarya; tapaḥ-svādhyāya-saṁyamaiḥ — by his austerities, study of the Vedas and regulative principles; dadhyau — he meditated; adhokṣajam — upon the transcendental Lord; yogī — the yogī; dhvasta — destroyed; kleśa — all troubles; antaḥ-ātmanā — with his introspective mind.
Translation
In this way the devotional mystic Mārkaṇḍeya maintained rigid celibacy through penance, study of the Vedas and self-discipline. With his mind thus free of all disturbances, he turned it inward and meditated on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who lies beyond the material senses.
Devanagari
तस्यैवं युञ्जतश्चित्तं महायोगेन योगिन: ।
व्यतीयाय महान् कालो मन्वन्तरषडात्मक: ॥ १४ ॥
व्यतीयाय महान् कालो मन्वन्तरषडात्मक: ॥ १४ ॥
Verse text
tasyaivaṁ yuñjataś cittaṁ
mahā-yogena yoginaḥ
vyatīyāya mahān kālo
manvantara-ṣaḍ-ātmakaḥ
mahā-yogena yoginaḥ
vyatīyāya mahān kālo
manvantara-ṣaḍ-ātmakaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
While the mystic sage thus concentrated his mind by powerful yoga practice, the tremendous period of six lifetimes of Manu passed by.
Devanagari
एतत् पुरन्दरो ज्ञात्वा सप्तमेऽस्मिन् किलान्तरे ।
तपोविशङ्कितो ब्रह्मन्नारेभे तद्विघातनम् ॥ १५ ॥
तपोविशङ्कितो ब्रह्मन्नारेभे तद्विघातनम् ॥ १५ ॥
Verse text
etat purandaro jñātvā
saptame ’smin kilāntare
tapo-viśaṅkito brahmann
ārebhe tad-vighātanam
saptame ’smin kilāntare
tapo-viśaṅkito brahmann
ārebhe tad-vighātanam
Synonyms
etat — this; purandaraḥ — Lord Indra; jñātvā — learning; saptame — in the seventh; asmin — this; kila — indeed; antare — reign of Manu; tapaḥ — of the austerities; viśaṅkitaḥ — becoming fearful; brahman — O brāhmaṇa Śaunaka; ārebhe — he set into motion; tat — of that austerity; vighātanam — obstruction.
Translation
O brāhmaṇa, during the seventh reign of Manu, the current age, Lord Indra came to know of Mārkaṇḍeya’s austerities and became fearful of his growing mystic potency. Thus he tried to impede the sage’s penance.
Devanagari
गन्धर्वाप्सरस: कामं वसन्तमलयानिलौ ।
मुनये प्रेषयामास रजस्तोकमदौ तथा ॥ १६ ॥
मुनये प्रेषयामास रजस्तोकमदौ तथा ॥ १६ ॥
Verse text
gandharvāpsarasaḥ kāmaṁ
vasanta-malayānilau
munaye preṣayām āsa
rajas-toka-madau tathā
vasanta-malayānilau
munaye preṣayām āsa
rajas-toka-madau tathā
Synonyms
Translation
To ruin the sage’s spiritual practice, Lord Indra sent Cupid, beautiful celestial singers, dancing girls, the season of spring and the sandalwood-scented breeze from the Malaya Hills, along with greed and intoxication personified.
Devanagari
ते वै तदाश्रमं जग्मुर्हिमाद्रे: पार्श्व उत्तरे ।
पुष्पभद्रा नदी यत्र चित्राख्या च शिला विभो ॥ १७ ॥
पुष्पभद्रा नदी यत्र चित्राख्या च शिला विभो ॥ १७ ॥
Verse text
te vai tad-āśramaṁ jagmur
himādreḥ pārśva uttare
puṣpabhadrā nadī yatra
citrākhyā ca śilā vibho
himādreḥ pārśva uttare
puṣpabhadrā nadī yatra
citrākhyā ca śilā vibho
Synonyms
te — they; vai — indeed; tat — of Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi; āśramam — to the hermitage; jagmuḥ — went; hima-adreḥ — of the Himālaya Mountains; pārśve — to the side; uttare — on the north; puṣpabhadrā nadī — the Puṣpabhadrā River; yatra — where; citrā-ākhyā — named Citrā; ca — and; śilā — the peak; vibho — O powerful Śaunaka.
Translation
O most powerful Śaunaka, they went to Mārkaṇḍeya’s hermitage, on the northern side of the Himālaya Mountains where the Puṣpabhadrā River passes by the famous peak Citrā.
Devanagari
तदाश्रमपदं पुण्यं पुण्यद्रुमलताञ्चितम् ।
पुण्यद्विजकुलाकीर्णं पुण्यामलजलाशयम् ॥ १८ ॥
मत्तभ्रमरसङ्गीतं मत्तकोकिलकूजितम् ।
मत्तबर्हिनटाटोपं मत्तद्विजकुलाकुलम् ॥ १९ ॥
वायु: प्रविष्ट आदाय हिमनिर्झरशीकरान् ।
सुमनोभि: परिष्वक्तो ववावुत्तम्भयन् स्मरम् ॥ २० ॥
पुण्यद्विजकुलाकीर्णं पुण्यामलजलाशयम् ॥ १८ ॥
मत्तभ्रमरसङ्गीतं मत्तकोकिलकूजितम् ।
मत्तबर्हिनटाटोपं मत्तद्विजकुलाकुलम् ॥ १९ ॥
वायु: प्रविष्ट आदाय हिमनिर्झरशीकरान् ।
सुमनोभि: परिष्वक्तो ववावुत्तम्भयन् स्मरम् ॥ २० ॥
Verse text
tad-āśrama-padaṁ puṇyaṁ
puṇya-druma-latāñcitam
puṇya-dvija-kulākīrṇaṁ
puṇyāmala-jalāśayam
puṇya-druma-latāñcitam
puṇya-dvija-kulākīrṇaṁ
puṇyāmala-jalāśayam
matta-bhramara-saṅgītaṁ
matta-kokila-kūjitam
matta-barhi-naṭāṭopaṁ
matta-dvija-kulākulam
matta-kokila-kūjitam
matta-barhi-naṭāṭopaṁ
matta-dvija-kulākulam
vāyuḥ praviṣṭa ādāya
hima-nirjhara-śīkarān
sumanobhiḥ pariṣvakto
vavāv uttambhayan smaram
hima-nirjhara-śīkarān
sumanobhiḥ pariṣvakto
vavāv uttambhayan smaram
Synonyms
tat — his; āśrama-padam — place of hermitage; puṇyam — pious; puṇya — pious; druma — with trees; latā — and creepers; añcitam — specially marked; puṇya — pious; dvija — of brāhmaṇa sages; kula — with the groups; ākīrṇam — brimming; puṇya — pious; amala — spotless; jala-āśayam — having reservoirs of water; matta — maddened; bhramara — of bees; saṅgītam — with singing; matta — maddened; kokila — of cuckoos; kūjitam — with cooing; matta — maddened; barhi — of peacocks; naṭa-āṭopam — with the frenzy of dancing; matta — maddened; dvija — of birds; kula — with the families; ākulam — filled; vāyuḥ — the wind of the Malaya Hills; praviṣṭaḥ — entering; ādāya — taking up; hima — chilling; nirjhara — of the waterfalls; śīkarān — the drops of mist; sumanobhiḥ — by the flowers; pariṣvaktaḥ — being embraced; vavau — blew; uttambhayan — evoking; smaram — Cupid.
Translation
Groves of pious trees decorated the holy āśrama of Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi, and many saintly brāhmaṇas lived there, enjoying the abundant pure, sacred ponds. The āśrama resounded with the buzzing of intoxicated bees and the cooing of excited cuckoos, while jubilant peacocks danced about. Indeed, many families of maddened birds crowded that hermitage. The springtime breeze sent by Lord Indra entered there, carrying cooling drops of spray from nearby waterfalls. Fragrant from the embrace of forest flowers, that breeze entered the hermitage and began evoking the lusty spirit of Cupid.
Devanagari
उद्यच्चन्द्रनिशावक्त्र: प्रवालस्तबकालिभि: ।
गोपद्रुमलताजालैस्तत्रासीत् कुसुमाकर: ॥ २१ ॥
गोपद्रुमलताजालैस्तत्रासीत् कुसुमाकर: ॥ २१ ॥
Verse text
udyac-candra-niśā-vaktraḥ
pravāla-stabakālibhiḥ
gopa-druma-latā-jālais
tatrāsīt kusumākaraḥ
pravāla-stabakālibhiḥ
gopa-druma-latā-jālais
tatrāsīt kusumākaraḥ
Synonyms
udyat — rising; candra — with the moon; niśā — nighttime; vaktraḥ — whose face; pravāla — of new sprouts; stabaka — and blossoms; ālibhiḥ — with rows; gopa — being hidden; druma — of the trees; latā — and creepers; jālaiḥ — along with the multitude; tatra — there; āsīt — appeared; kusuma-ākaraḥ — the spring season.
Translation
Springtime then appeared in Mārkaṇḍeya’s āśrama. Indeed, the evening sky, glowing with the light of the rising moon, became the very face of spring, and sprouts and fresh blossoms virtually covered the multitude of trees and creepers.
Devanagari
अन्वीयमानो गन्धर्वैर्गीतवादित्रयूथकै: ।
अदृश्यतात्तचापेषु: स्व:स्त्रीयूथपति: स्मर: ॥ २२ ॥
अदृश्यतात्तचापेषु: स्व:स्त्रीयूथपति: स्मर: ॥ २२ ॥
Verse text
anvīyamāno gandharvair
gīta-vāditra-yūthakaiḥ
adṛśyatātta-cāpeṣuḥ
svaḥ-strī-yūtha-patiḥ smaraḥ
gīta-vāditra-yūthakaiḥ
adṛśyatātta-cāpeṣuḥ
svaḥ-strī-yūtha-patiḥ smaraḥ
Synonyms
anvīyamānaḥ — being followed; gandharvaiḥ — by Gandharvas; gīta — of singers; vāditra — and players of musical instruments; yūthakaiḥ — by companies; adṛśyata — was seen; ātta — holding up; cāpa-iṣuḥ — his bow and arrows; svaḥ-strī-yūtha — of hoardes of heavenly women; patiḥ — the master; smaraḥ — Cupid.
Translation
Cupid, the master of many heavenly women, then came there holding his bow and arrows. He was followed by groups of Gandharvas playing musical instruments and singing.
Devanagari
हुत्वाग्निं समुपासीनं ददृशु: शक्रकिङ्करा: ।
मीलिताक्षं दुराधर्षं मूर्तिमन्तमिवानलम् ॥ २३ ॥
मीलिताक्षं दुराधर्षं मूर्तिमन्तमिवानलम् ॥ २३ ॥
Verse text
hutvāgniṁ samupāsīnaṁ
dadṛśuḥ śakra-kiṅkarāḥ
mīlitākṣaṁ durādharṣaṁ
mūrtimantam ivānalam
dadṛśuḥ śakra-kiṅkarāḥ
mīlitākṣaṁ durādharṣaṁ
mūrtimantam ivānalam
Synonyms
Translation
These servants of Indra found the sage sitting in meditation, having just offered his prescribed oblations into the sacrificial fire. His eyes closed in trance, he seemed invincible, like fire personified.
Devanagari
ननृतुस्तस्य पुरत: स्त्रियोऽथो गायका जगु: ।
मृदङ्गवीणापणवैर्वाद्यं चक्रुर्मनोरमम् ॥ २४ ॥
मृदङ्गवीणापणवैर्वाद्यं चक्रुर्मनोरमम् ॥ २४ ॥
Verse text
nanṛtus tasya purataḥ
striyo ’tho gāyakā jaguḥ
mṛdaṅga-vīṇā-paṇavair
vādyaṁ cakrur mano-ramam
striyo ’tho gāyakā jaguḥ
mṛdaṅga-vīṇā-paṇavair
vādyaṁ cakrur mano-ramam
Synonyms
Translation
The women danced before the sage, and the celestial singers sang to the charming accompaniment of drums, cymbals and vīṇās.
Devanagari
सन्दधेऽस्त्रं स्वधनुषि काम: पञ्चमुखं तदा ।
मधुर्मनो रजस्तोक इन्द्रभृत्या व्यकम्पयन् ॥ २५ ॥
मधुर्मनो रजस्तोक इन्द्रभृत्या व्यकम्पयन् ॥ २५ ॥
Verse text
sandadhe ’straṁ sva-dhanuṣi
kāmaḥ pañca-mukhaṁ tadā
madhur mano rajas-toka
indra-bhṛtyā vyakampayan
kāmaḥ pañca-mukhaṁ tadā
madhur mano rajas-toka
indra-bhṛtyā vyakampayan
Synonyms
sandadhe — he fixed; astram — the weapon; sva-dhanuṣi — upon his bow; kāmaḥ — Cupid; pañca-mukham — having five heads (sight, sound, smell, touch and taste); tadā — then; madhuḥ — spring; manaḥ — the mind of the sage; rajaḥ-tokaḥ — the child of passion, greed; indra-bhṛtyāḥ — the servants of Indra; vyakampayan — attempted to agitate.
Translation
While the son of passion [greed personified], spring and the other servants of Indra all tried to agitate Mārkaṇḍeya’s mind, Cupid drew his five-headed arrow and fixed it upon his bow.
Devanagari
क्रीडन्त्या: पुञ्जिकस्थल्या: कन्दुकै: स्तनगौरवात् ।
भृशमुद्विग्नमध्याया: केशविस्रंसितस्रज: ॥ २६ ॥
इतस्ततोभ्रमद्दृष्टेश्चलन्त्या अनुकन्दुकम् ।
वायुर्जहार तद्वास: सूक्ष्मं त्रुटितमेखलम् ॥ २७ ॥
भृशमुद्विग्नमध्याया: केशविस्रंसितस्रज: ॥ २६ ॥
इतस्ततोभ्रमद्दृष्टेश्चलन्त्या अनुकन्दुकम् ।
वायुर्जहार तद्वास: सूक्ष्मं त्रुटितमेखलम् ॥ २७ ॥
Verse text
krīḍantyāḥ puñjikasthalyāḥ
kandukaiḥ stana-gauravāt
bhṛśam udvigna-madhyāyāḥ
keśa-visraṁsita-srajaḥ
kandukaiḥ stana-gauravāt
bhṛśam udvigna-madhyāyāḥ
keśa-visraṁsita-srajaḥ
itas tato bhramad-dṛṣṭeś
calantyā anu kandukam
vāyur jahāra tad-vāsaḥ
sūkṣmaṁ truṭita-mekhalam
calantyā anu kandukam
vāyur jahāra tad-vāsaḥ
sūkṣmaṁ truṭita-mekhalam
Synonyms
krīḍantyāḥ — who was playing; puñjikasthalyāḥ — of the Apsarā named Puñjikasthalī; kandukaiḥ — with a number of balls; stana — of her breasts; gauravāt — because of the great weight; bhṛśam — very much; udvigna — overburdened; madhyāyāḥ — whose waist; keśa — from her hair; visraṁsita — falling; srajaḥ — the flower garland; itaḥ tataḥ — here and there; bhramat — wandering; dṛṣṭeḥ — whose eyes; calantyāḥ — who was running about; anu kandukam — after her ball; vāyuḥ — the wind; jahāra — stole away; tat-vāsaḥ — her garment; sūkṣmam — fine; truṭita — loosened; mekhalam — the belt.
Translation
The Apsarā Puñjikasthalī made a show of playing with a number of toy balls. Her waist seemed weighed down by her heavy breasts, and the wreath of flowers in her hair became disheveled. As she ran about after the balls, glancing here and there, the belt of her thin garment loosened, and suddenly the wind blew her clothes away.
Devanagari
विससर्ज तदा बाणं मत्वा तं स्वजितं स्मर: ।
सर्वं तत्राभवन्मोघमनीशस्य यथोद्यम: ॥ २८ ॥
सर्वं तत्राभवन्मोघमनीशस्य यथोद्यम: ॥ २८ ॥
Verse text
visasarja tadā bāṇaṁ
matvā taṁ sva-jitaṁ smaraḥ
sarvaṁ tatrābhavan mogham
anīśasya yathodyamaḥ
matvā taṁ sva-jitaṁ smaraḥ
sarvaṁ tatrābhavan mogham
anīśasya yathodyamaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Cupid, thinking he had conquered the sage, then shot his arrow. But all these attempts to seduce Mārkaṇḍeya proved futile, just like the useless endeavors of an atheist.
Devanagari
त इत्थमपकुर्वन्तो मुनेस्तत्तेजसा मुने ।
दह्यमाना निववृतु: प्रबोध्याहिमिवार्भका: ॥ २९ ॥
दह्यमाना निववृतु: प्रबोध्याहिमिवार्भका: ॥ २९ ॥
Verse text
ta ittham apakurvanto
munes tat-tejasā mune
dahyamānā nivavṛtuḥ
prabodhyāhim ivārbhakāḥ
munes tat-tejasā mune
dahyamānā nivavṛtuḥ
prabodhyāhim ivārbhakāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
O learned Śaunaka, while Cupid and his followers tried to harm the sage, they felt themselves being burned alive by his potency. Thus they stopped their mischief, just like children who have aroused a sleeping snake.
Devanagari
इतीन्द्रानुचरैर्ब्रह्मन् धर्षितोऽपि महामुनि: ।
यन्नागादहमो भावं न तच्चित्रं महत्सु हि ॥ ३० ॥
यन्नागादहमो भावं न तच्चित्रं महत्सु हि ॥ ३० ॥
Verse text
itīndrānucarair brahman
dharṣito ’pi mahā-muniḥ
yan nāgād ahamo bhāvaṁ
na tac citraṁ mahatsu hi
dharṣito ’pi mahā-muniḥ
yan nāgād ahamo bhāvaṁ
na tac citraṁ mahatsu hi
Synonyms
iti — thus; indra-anucaraiḥ — by the followers of Indra; brahman — O brāhmaṇa; dharṣitaḥ — impudently attacked; api — although; mahā-muniḥ — the elevated sage; yat — that; na agāt — he did not succumb; ahamaḥ — of false ego; bhāvam — to the transformation; na — not; tat — that; citram — surprising; mahatsu — for great souls; hi — indeed.
Translation
O brāhmaṇa, the followers of Lord Indra had impudently attacked the saintly Mārkaṇḍeya, yet he did not succumb to any influence of false ego. For great souls such tolerance is not at all surprising.
Devanagari
दृष्ट्वा निस्तेजसं कामं सगणं भगवान् स्वराट् ।
श्रुत्वानुभावं ब्रह्मर्षेर्विस्मयं समगात् परम् ॥ ३१ ॥
श्रुत्वानुभावं ब्रह्मर्षेर्विस्मयं समगात् परम् ॥ ३१ ॥
Verse text
dṛṣṭvā nistejasaṁ kāmaṁ
sa-gaṇaṁ bhagavān svarāṭ
śrutvānubhāvaṁ brahmarṣer
vismayaṁ samagāt param
sa-gaṇaṁ bhagavān svarāṭ
śrutvānubhāvaṁ brahmarṣer
vismayaṁ samagāt param
Synonyms
dṛṣṭvā — seeing; nistejasam — deprived of his power; kāmam — Cupid; sa-gaṇam — along with his associates; bhagavān — the powerful lord; sva-rāṭ — King Indra; śrutvā — and hearing; anubhāvam — the influence; brahma-ṛṣeḥ — of the sage among the brāhmaṇas; vismayam — astonishment; samagāt — he attained; param — great.
Translation
The mighty King Indra was most astonished when he heard of the mystic prowess of the exalted sage Mārkaṇḍeya and saw how Cupid and his associates had become powerless in his presence.
Devanagari
तस्यैवं युञ्जतश्चित्तं तप:स्वाध्यायसंयमै: ।
अनुग्रहायाविरासीन्नरनारायणो हरि: ॥ ३२ ॥
अनुग्रहायाविरासीन्नरनारायणो हरि: ॥ ३२ ॥
Verse text
tasyaivaṁ yuñjataś cittaṁ
tapaḥ-svādhyāya-saṁyamaiḥ
anugrahāyāvirāsīn
nara-nārāyaṇo hariḥ
tapaḥ-svādhyāya-saṁyamaiḥ
anugrahāyāvirāsīn
nara-nārāyaṇo hariḥ
Synonyms
tasya — while he, Mārkaṇḍeya; evam — in this way; yuñjataḥ — was fixing; cittam — his mind; tapaḥ — by austerity; svādhyāya — study of the Vedas; saṁyamaiḥ — and regulative principles; anugrahāya — for showing mercy; āvirāsīt — made Himself manifest; nara-nārāyaṇaḥ — exhibiting the forms of Nara and Nārāyaṇa; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Translation
Desiring to bestow His mercy upon the saintly Mārkaṇḍeya, who had perfectly fixed his mind in self-realization through penance, Vedic study and observance of regulative principles, the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally appeared before the sage in the forms of Nara and Nārāyaṇa.
Devanagari
तौ शुक्लकृष्णौ नवकञ्जलोचनौ
चतुर्भुजौ रौरववल्कलाम्बरौ ।
पवित्रपाणी उपवीतकं त्रिवृत्
कमण्डलुं दण्डमृजुं च वैणवम् ॥ ३३ ॥
पद्माक्षमालामुत जन्तुमार्जनं
वेदं च साक्षात्तप एव रूपिणौ ।
तपत्तडिद्वर्णपिशङ्गरोचिषा
प्रांशू दधानौ विबुधर्षभार्चितौ ॥ ३४ ॥
चतुर्भुजौ रौरववल्कलाम्बरौ ।
पवित्रपाणी उपवीतकं त्रिवृत्
कमण्डलुं दण्डमृजुं च वैणवम् ॥ ३३ ॥
पद्माक्षमालामुत जन्तुमार्जनं
वेदं च साक्षात्तप एव रूपिणौ ।
तपत्तडिद्वर्णपिशङ्गरोचिषा
प्रांशू दधानौ विबुधर्षभार्चितौ ॥ ३४ ॥
Verse text
tau śukla-kṛṣṇau nava-kañja-locanau
catur-bhujau raurava-valkalāmbarau
pavitra-pāṇī upavītakaṁ tri-vṛt
kamaṇḍaluṁ daṇḍam ṛjuṁ ca vaiṇavam
catur-bhujau raurava-valkalāmbarau
pavitra-pāṇī upavītakaṁ tri-vṛt
kamaṇḍaluṁ daṇḍam ṛjuṁ ca vaiṇavam
padmākṣa-mālām uta jantu-mārjanaṁ
vedaṁ ca sākṣāt tapa eva rūpiṇau
tapat-taḍid-varṇa-piśaṅga-rociṣā
prāṁśū dadhānau vibudharṣabhārcitau
vedaṁ ca sākṣāt tapa eva rūpiṇau
tapat-taḍid-varṇa-piśaṅga-rociṣā
prāṁśū dadhānau vibudharṣabhārcitau
Synonyms
tau — the two of Them; śukla-kṛṣṇau — one white and the other black; nava-kañja — like blooming lotus flowers; locanau — Their eyes; catuḥ-bhujau — having four arms; raurava — black deerskin; valkala — and bark; ambarau — as Their clothing; pavitra — most purifying; pāṇī — Their hands; upavītakam — sacred thread; tri-vṛt — threefold; kamaṇḍalum — waterpot; daṇḍam — staff; ṛjum — straight; ca — and; vaiṇavam — made of bamboo; padma-akṣa — of lotus seeds; mālām — prayer beads; uta — and; jantu-mārjanam — which purifies all living beings; vedam — the Vedas (represented by bundles of darbha grass); ca — and; sākṣāt — directly; tapaḥ — austerity; eva — indeed; rūpiṇau — personified; tapat — blazing; taḍit — lightning; varṇa — the color; piśaṅga — yellowish; rociṣā — with Their effulgence; prāṁśū — very tall; dadhānau — bearing; vibudha-ṛṣabha — by the chief of the demigods; arcitau — worshiped.
Translation
One of Them was of a whitish complexion, the other blackish, and They both had four arms. Their eyes resembled the petals of blooming lotuses, and They wore garments of black deerskin and bark, along with the three-stranded sacred thread. In Their hands, which were most purifying, They carried the mendicant’s waterpot, straight bamboo staff and lotus-seed prayer beads, as well as the all-purifying Vedas in the symbolic form of bundles of darbha grass. Their bearing was tall and Their yellow effulgence the color of radiant lightning. Appearing as austerity personified, They were being worshiped by the foremost demigods.
Devanagari
ते वै भगवतो रूपे नरनारायणावृषी ।
दृष्ट्वोत्थायादरेणोच्चैर्ननामाङ्गेन दण्डवत् ॥ ३५ ॥
दृष्ट्वोत्थायादरेणोच्चैर्ननामाङ्गेन दण्डवत् ॥ ३५ ॥
Verse text
te vai bhagavato rūpe
nara-nārāyaṇāv ṛṣī
dṛṣṭvotthāyādareṇoccair
nanāmāṅgena daṇḍa-vat
nara-nārāyaṇāv ṛṣī
dṛṣṭvotthāyādareṇoccair
nanāmāṅgena daṇḍa-vat
Synonyms
te — They; vai — indeed; bhagavataḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; rūpe — the personal manifestations; nara-nārāyaṇau — Nara and Nārāyaṇa; ṛṣī — the two sages; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; utthāya — standing up; ādareṇa — with respect; uccaiḥ — great; nanāma — bowed down; aṅgena — with his entire body; daṇḍa-vat — just like a stick.
Translation
These two sages, Nara and Nārāyaṇa, were the direct personal forms of the Supreme Lord. When Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi saw Them, he immediately stood up and then with great respect offered Them obeisances by falling down flat on the ground like a stick.
Devanagari
स तत्सन्दर्शनानन्दनिर्वृतात्मेन्द्रियाशय: ।
हृष्टरोमाश्रुपूर्णाक्षो न सेहे तावुदीक्षितुम् ॥ ३६ ॥
हृष्टरोमाश्रुपूर्णाक्षो न सेहे तावुदीक्षितुम् ॥ ३६ ॥
Verse text
sa tat-sandarśanānanda-
nirvṛtātmendriyāśayaḥ
hṛṣṭa-romāśru-pūrṇākṣo
na sehe tāv udīkṣitum
nirvṛtātmendriyāśayaḥ
hṛṣṭa-romāśru-pūrṇākṣo
na sehe tāv udīkṣitum
Synonyms
saḥ — he, Mārkaṇḍeya; tat — of Them; sandarśana — because of seeing; ānanda — by the ecstasy; nirvṛta — pleased; ātma — whose body; indriya — senses; āśayaḥ — and mind; hṛṣṭa — standing on end; romā — his bodily hairs; aśru — with tears; pūrṇa — filled; akṣaḥ — his eyes; na sehe — he was unable; tau — upon them; udīkṣitum — to glance.
Translation
The ecstasy of seeing Them completely satisfied Mārkaṇḍeya’s body, mind and senses and caused the hairs on his body to stand on end and his eyes to fill with tears. Overwhelmed, Mārkaṇḍeya found it difficult to look at Them.
Devanagari
उत्थाय प्राञ्जलि: प्रह्व औत्सुक्यादाश्लिषन्निव ।
नमो नम इतीशानौ बभाशे गद्गदाक्षरम् ॥ ३७ ॥
नमो नम इतीशानौ बभाशे गद्गदाक्षरम् ॥ ३७ ॥
Verse text
utthāya prāñjaliḥ prahva
autsukyād āśliṣann iva
namo nama itīśānau
babhāṣe gadgadākṣaram
autsukyād āśliṣann iva
namo nama itīśānau
babhāṣe gadgadākṣaram
Synonyms
Translation
Standing with his hands folded in supplication and his head bowed in humility, Mārkaṇḍeya felt such eagerness that he imagined he was embracing the two Lords. In a voice choked with ecstasy, he repeatedly said, “I offer You my humble obeisances.”
Devanagari
तयोरासनमादाय पादयोरवनिज्य च ।
अर्हणेनानुलेपेन धूपमाल्यैरपूजयत् ॥ ३८ ॥
अर्हणेनानुलेपेन धूपमाल्यैरपूजयत् ॥ ३८ ॥
Verse text
tayor āsanam ādāya
pādayor avanijya ca
arhaṇenānulepena
dhūpa-mālyair apūjayat
pādayor avanijya ca
arhaṇenānulepena
dhūpa-mālyair apūjayat
Synonyms
tayoḥ — to Them; āsanam — sitting places; ādāya — offering; pādayoḥ — Their feet; avanijya — bathing; ca — and; arhaṇena — with suitable respectful offerings; anulepena — by anointing Them with sandalwood pulp and other fragrant substances; dhūpa — with incense; mālyaiḥ — and flower garlands; apūjayat — he worshiped.
Translation
He gave Them sitting places and washed Their feet, and then he worshiped Them with presentations of arghya, sandalwood pulp, fragrant oils, incense and flower garlands.
Devanagari
सुखमासनमासीनौ प्रसादाभिमुखौ मुनी ।
पुनरानम्य पादाभ्यां गरिष्ठाविदमब्रवीत् ॥ ३९ ॥
पुनरानम्य पादाभ्यां गरिष्ठाविदमब्रवीत् ॥ ३९ ॥
Verse text
sukham āsanam āsīnau
prasādābhimukhau munī
punar ānamya pādābhyāṁ
gariṣṭhāv idam abravīt
prasādābhimukhau munī
punar ānamya pādābhyāṁ
gariṣṭhāv idam abravīt
Synonyms
sukham — comfortably; āsanam — on sitting places; āsīnau — seated; prasāda — mercy; abhimukhau — ready to give; munī — to the Lord’s incarnation as the two sages; punaḥ — again; ānamya — bowing down; pādābhyām — at Their feet; gariṣṭhau — to the supremely worshipable; idam — this; abravīt — he spoke.
Translation
Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi once again bowed down at the lotus feet of those two most worshipable sages, who were sitting at ease, ready to bestow all mercy upon him. He then addressed Them as follows.
Devanagari
श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच
किं वर्णये तव विभो यदुदीरितोऽसु:
संस्पन्दते तमनु वाङ्मनइन्द्रियाणि ।
स्पन्दन्ति वै तनुभृतामजशर्वयोश्च
स्वस्याप्यथापि भजतामसि भावबन्धु: ॥ ४० ॥
किं वर्णये तव विभो यदुदीरितोऽसु:
संस्पन्दते तमनु वाङ्मनइन्द्रियाणि ।
स्पन्दन्ति वै तनुभृतामजशर्वयोश्च
स्वस्याप्यथापि भजतामसि भावबन्धु: ॥ ४० ॥
Verse text
śrī-mārkaṇḍeya uvāca
kiṁ varṇaye tava vibho yad-udīrito ’suḥ
saṁspandate tam anu vāṅ-mana-indriyāṇi
spandanti vai tanu-bhṛtām aja-śarvayoś ca
svasyāpy athāpi bhajatām asi bhāva-bandhuḥ
kiṁ varṇaye tava vibho yad-udīrito ’suḥ
saṁspandate tam anu vāṅ-mana-indriyāṇi
spandanti vai tanu-bhṛtām aja-śarvayoś ca
svasyāpy athāpi bhajatām asi bhāva-bandhuḥ
Synonyms
śrī-mārkaṇḍeyaḥ uvāca — Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said; kim — what; varṇaye — shall I describe; tava — about You; vibho — O Almighty Lord; yat — by whom; udīritaḥ — moved; asuḥ — the vital air; saṁspandate — comes to life; tam anu — following it; vāk — the power of speech; manaḥ — the mind; indriyāṇi — and the senses; spandanti — begin to act; vai — indeed; tanu-bhṛtām — of all embodied living beings; aja-śarvayoḥ — of Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva; ca — as well; svasya — of myself; api — also; atha api — nevertheless; bhajatām — for those who are worshiping; asi — You become; bhāva-bandhuḥ — the intimate loving friend.
Translation
Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said: O Almighty Lord, how can I possibly describe You? You awaken the vital air, which then impels the mind, senses and power of speech to act. This is true for all ordinary conditioned souls and even for great demigods like Brahmā and Śiva. So it is certainly true for me. Nevertheless, You become the intimate friend of those who worship You.
Devanagari
मूर्ती इमे भगवतो भगवंस्त्रिलोक्या:
क्षेमाय तापविरमाय च मृत्युजित्यै ।
नाना बिभर्ष्यवितुमन्यतनूर्यथेदं
सृष्ट्वा पुनर्ग्रससि सर्वमिवोर्णनाभि: ॥ ४१ ॥
क्षेमाय तापविरमाय च मृत्युजित्यै ।
नाना बिभर्ष्यवितुमन्यतनूर्यथेदं
सृष्ट्वा पुनर्ग्रससि सर्वमिवोर्णनाभि: ॥ ४१ ॥
Verse text
mūrtī ime bhagavato bhagavaṁs tri-lokyāḥ
kṣemāya tāpa-viramāya ca mṛtyu-jityai
nānā bibharṣy avitum anya-tanūr yathedaṁ
sṛṣṭvā punar grasasi sarvam ivorṇanābhiḥ
kṣemāya tāpa-viramāya ca mṛtyu-jityai
nānā bibharṣy avitum anya-tanūr yathedaṁ
sṛṣṭvā punar grasasi sarvam ivorṇanābhiḥ
Synonyms
mūrtī — the two personal forms; ime — these; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhagavan — O Lord; tri-lokyāḥ — of all the three worlds; kṣemāya — for the ultimate benefit; tāpa — of material misery; viramāya — for the cessation; ca — and; mṛtyu — of death; jityai — for the conquest; nānā — various; bibharṣi — You manifest; avitum — for the purpose of protecting; anya — other; tanūḥ — transcendental bodies; yathā — just as; idam — this universe; sṛṣṭvā — having created; punaḥ — once again; grasasi — You swallow up; sarvam — entirely; iva — just like; ūrṇa-nābhiḥ — a spider.
Translation
O Supreme Personality of Godhead, these two personal forms of Yours have appeared to bestow the ultimate benefit for the three worlds — the cessation of material misery and the conquest of death. My Lord, although You create this universe and then assume many transcendental forms to protect it, You also swallow it up, just like a spider who spins and later withdraws its web.
Devanagari
तस्यावितु: स्थिरचरेशितुरङ्घ्रिमूलं
यत्स्थं न कर्मगुणकालरज: स्पृशन्ति ।
यद् वै स्तुवन्ति निनमन्ति यजन्त्यभीक्ष्णं
ध्यायन्ति वेदहृदया मुनयस्तदाप्त्यै ॥ ४२ ॥
यत्स्थं न कर्मगुणकालरज: स्पृशन्ति ।
यद् वै स्तुवन्ति निनमन्ति यजन्त्यभीक्ष्णं
ध्यायन्ति वेदहृदया मुनयस्तदाप्त्यै ॥ ४२ ॥
Verse text
tasyāvituḥ sthira-careśitur aṅghri-mūlaṁ
yat-sthaṁ na karma-guṇa-kāla-rajaḥ spṛśanti
yad vai stuvanti ninamanti yajanty abhīkṣṇaṁ
dhyāyanti veda-hṛdayā munayas tad-āptyai
yat-sthaṁ na karma-guṇa-kāla-rajaḥ spṛśanti
yad vai stuvanti ninamanti yajanty abhīkṣṇaṁ
dhyāyanti veda-hṛdayā munayas tad-āptyai
Synonyms
tasya — of Him; avituḥ — the protector; sthira-cara — of the stationary and moving living beings; īśituḥ — the supreme controller; aṅghri-mūlam — the soles of His lotus feet; yat-stham — one who is situated at which; na — do not; karma-guṇa-kāla — of material work, material qualities and time; rajaḥ — the contamination; spṛśanti — touch; yat — whom; vai — indeed; stuvanti — praise; ninamanti — bow down to; yajanti — worship; abhīkṣṇam — at every moment; dhyāyanti — meditate upon; veda-hṛdayāḥ — who have assimilated the essence of the Vedas; munayaḥ — sages; tat-āptyai — for the purpose of achieving Him.
Translation
Because You are the protector and the supreme controller of all moving and nonmoving beings, anyone who takes shelter of Your lotus feet can never be touched by the contamination of material work, material qualities or time. Great sages who have assimilated the essential meaning of the Vedas offer their prayers to You. To gain Your association, they bow down to You at every opportunity and constantly worship You and meditate upon You.
Devanagari
नान्यं तवाङ्घ्र्युपनयादपवर्गमूर्ते:
क्षेमं जनस्य परितोभिय ईश विद्म: ।
ब्रह्मा बिभेत्यलमतो द्विपरार्धधिष्ण्य:
कालस्य ते किमुत तत्कृतभौतिकानाम् ॥ ४३ ॥
क्षेमं जनस्य परितोभिय ईश विद्म: ।
ब्रह्मा बिभेत्यलमतो द्विपरार्धधिष्ण्य:
कालस्य ते किमुत तत्कृतभौतिकानाम् ॥ ४३ ॥
Verse text
nānyaṁ tavāṅghry-upanayād apavarga-mūrteḥ
kṣemaṁ janasya parito-bhiya īśa vidmaḥ
brahmā bibhety alam ato dvi-parārdha-dhiṣṇyaḥ
kālasya te kim uta tat-kṛta-bhautikānām
kṣemaṁ janasya parito-bhiya īśa vidmaḥ
brahmā bibhety alam ato dvi-parārdha-dhiṣṇyaḥ
kālasya te kim uta tat-kṛta-bhautikānām
Synonyms
na anyam — no other; tava — Your; aṅghri — of the lotus feet; upanayāt — than the attainment; apavarga-mūrteḥ — who are liberation personified; kṣemam — benefit; janasya — for the person; paritaḥ — on all sides; bhiyaḥ — who is fearful; īśa — O Lord; vidmaḥ — do we know; brahmā — Lord Brahmā; bibheti — is afraid; alam — very much; ataḥ — on account of this; dvi-parārdha — the entire duration of the universe; dhiṣṇyaḥ — the period of whose reign; kālasya — because of time; te — Your feature; kim uta — then what to speak; tat-kṛta — created by him, Brahmā; bhautikānām — of the mundane creatures.
Translation
My dear Lord, even Lord Brahmā, who enjoys his exalted position for the entire duration of the universe, fears the passage of time. Then what to speak of those whom Brahmā creates, the conditioned souls. They encounter fearful dangers at every step of their lives. I do not know of any relief from this fear except shelter at Your lotus feet, which are the very form of liberation.
Devanagari
तद् वै भजाम्यृतधियस्तव पादमूलं
हित्वेदमात्मच्छदि चात्मगुरो: परस्य ।
देहाद्यपार्थमसदन्त्यमभिज्ञमात्रं
विन्देत ते तर्हि सर्वमनीषितार्थम् ॥ ४४ ॥
हित्वेदमात्मच्छदि चात्मगुरो: परस्य ।
देहाद्यपार्थमसदन्त्यमभिज्ञमात्रं
विन्देत ते तर्हि सर्वमनीषितार्थम् ॥ ४४ ॥
Verse text
tad vai bhajāmy ṛta-dhiyas tava pāda-mūlaṁ
hitvedam ātma-cchadi cātma-guroḥ parasya
dehādy apārtham asad antyam abhijña-mātraṁ
vindeta te tarhi sarva-manīṣitārtham
hitvedam ātma-cchadi cātma-guroḥ parasya
dehādy apārtham asad antyam abhijña-mātraṁ
vindeta te tarhi sarva-manīṣitārtham
Synonyms
tat — therefore; vai — indeed; bhajāmi — I worship; ṛta-dhiyaḥ — of Him whose intelligence always perceives the truth; tava — of You; pāda-mūlam — the soles of the lotus feet; hitvā — giving up; idam — this; ātma-chadi — covering of the self; ca — and; ātma-guroḥ — of the master of the soul; parasya — who is the Supreme Truth; deha-ādi — the material body and other false designations; apārtham — useless; asat — insubstantial; antyam — temporary; abhijña-mātram — only imagined to have a separate existence; vindeta — one obtains; te — from You; tarhi — then; sarva — all; manīṣita — desired; artham — objects.
Translation
Therefore I worship Your lotus feet, having renounced my identification with the material body and everything else that covers my true self. These useless, insubstantial and temporary coverings are merely presumed to be separate from You, whose intelligence encompasses all truth. By attaining You — the Supreme Godhead and the master of the soul — one attains everything desirable.
Purport
One who falsely identifies himself as the material body or mind automatically feels entitled to exploit the material world. But when we realize our eternal spiritual nature and Lord Kṛṣṇa’s supreme proprietorship over all that be, we renounce our false enjoying propensity by the strength of spiritual knowledge.
Devanagari
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इतीश तवात्मबन्धो
मायामया: स्थितिलयोदयहेतवोऽस्य ।
लीला धृता यदपि सत्त्वमयी प्रशान्त्यै
नान्ये नृणां व्यसनमोहभियश्च याभ्याम् ॥ ४५ ॥
मायामया: स्थितिलयोदयहेतवोऽस्य ।
लीला धृता यदपि सत्त्वमयी प्रशान्त्यै
नान्ये नृणां व्यसनमोहभियश्च याभ्याम् ॥ ४५ ॥
Verse text
sattvaṁ rajas tama itīśa tavātma-bandho
māyā-mayāḥ sthiti-layodaya-hetavo ’sya
līlā dhṛtā yad api sattva-mayī praśāntyai
nānye nṛṇāṁ vyasana-moha-bhiyaś ca yābhyām
māyā-mayāḥ sthiti-layodaya-hetavo ’sya
līlā dhṛtā yad api sattva-mayī praśāntyai
nānye nṛṇāṁ vyasana-moha-bhiyaś ca yābhyām
Synonyms
sattvam — goodness; rajaḥ — passion; tamaḥ — ignorance; iti — the modes of nature thus termed; īśa — O Lord; tava — Your; ātma-bandho — O supreme friend of the soul; māyā-mayāḥ — produced from Your personal energy; sthiti-laya-udaya — of maintenance, destruction and creation; hetavaḥ — the causes; asya — of this universe; līlāḥ — as pastimes; dhṛtāḥ — assumed; yat api — although; sattva-mayī — that which is in the mode of goodness; praśāntyai — for liberation; na — not; anye — the other two; nṛṇām — for persons; vyasana — danger; moha — bewilderment; bhiyaḥ — and fear; ca — also; yābhyām — from which.
Translation
O my Lord, O supreme friend of the conditioned soul, although for the creation, maintenance and annihilation of this world You accept the modes of goodness, passion and ignorance, which constitute Your illusory potency, You specifically employ the mode of goodness to liberate the conditioned souls. The other two modes simply bring them suffering, illusion and fear.
Purport
The words līlā dhṛtāḥ indicate that the creative activities of Lord Brahmā, the destructive activities of Lord Śiva and the sustaining functions of Lord Viṣṇu are all pastimes of the Absolute Truth, Lord Kṛṣṇa. But ultimately only Lord Viṣṇu can award liberation from the clutches of material illusion, as indicated by the words sattva-mayī praśāntyai.
Our passionate and ignorant activities cause great suffering, illusion and fear for us and others; therefore they should be given up. One should become firmly situated in the mode of goodness and live peacefully on the spiritual platform. The essence of goodness is to renounce selfish interest in all one’s activities and thus dedicate one’s entire being to the Supreme Being, Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is the source of our existence.
Devanagari
तस्मात्तवेह भगवन्नथ तावकानां
शुक्लां तनुं स्वदयितां कुशला भजन्ति ।
यत् सात्वता: पुरुषरूपमुशन्ति सत्त्वं
लोको यतोऽभयमुतात्मसुखं न चान्यत् ॥ ४६ ॥
शुक्लां तनुं स्वदयितां कुशला भजन्ति ।
यत् सात्वता: पुरुषरूपमुशन्ति सत्त्वं
लोको यतोऽभयमुतात्मसुखं न चान्यत् ॥ ४६ ॥
Verse text
tasmāt taveha bhagavann atha tāvakānāṁ
śuklāṁ tanuṁ sva-dayitāṁ kuśalā bhajanti
yat sātvatāḥ puruṣa-rūpam uśanti sattvaṁ
loko yato ’bhayam utātma-sukhaṁ na cānyat
śuklāṁ tanuṁ sva-dayitāṁ kuśalā bhajanti
yat sātvatāḥ puruṣa-rūpam uśanti sattvaṁ
loko yato ’bhayam utātma-sukhaṁ na cānyat
Synonyms
tasmāt — therefore; tava — Your; iha — in this world; bhagavan — O Supreme Lord; atha — and; tāvakānām — of Your devotees; śuklām — transcendental; tanum — the personal form; sva-dayitām — most dear to them; kuśalāḥ — those who are expert in spiritual knowledge; bhajanti — worship; yat — because; sātvatāḥ — the great devotees; puruṣa — of the original Personality of Godhead; rūpam — the form; uśanti — consider; sattvam — the mode of goodness; lokaḥ — the spiritual world; yataḥ — from which; abhayam — fearlessness; uta — and; ātma-sukham — the happiness of the soul; na — not; ca — and; anyat — any other.
Translation
O Lord, because fearlessness, spiritual happiness and the kingdom of God are all achieved through the mode of pure goodness, Your devotees consider this mode, but never passion and ignorance, to be a direct manifestation of You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Intelligent persons thus worship Your beloved transcendental form, composed of pure goodness, along with the spiritual forms of Your pure devotees.
Purport
Intelligent persons do not worship the demigods, who represent the modes of passion and ignorance. Lord Brahmā represents passion, Lord Śiva represents ignorance, and demigods such as Indra also represent the modes of material nature. But Lord Viṣṇu, or Nārāyaṇa, represents pure spiritual goodness, which brings one realization of the spiritual world, freedom from fear, and spiritual bliss. Such benefits can never be derived from impure, material goodness, for it is always mixed with the modes of passion and ignorance. As clearly indicated in this verse, the transcendental form of God is fully constituted of eternal spiritual goodness and thus has no tinge of the material mode of goodness, passion or ignorance.
Devanagari
तस्मै नमो भगवते पुरुषाय भूम्ने
विश्वाय विश्वगुरवे परदैवताय ।
नारायणाय ऋषये च नरोत्तमाय
हंसाय संयतगिरे निगमेश्वराय ॥ ४७ ॥
विश्वाय विश्वगुरवे परदैवताय ।
नारायणाय ऋषये च नरोत्तमाय
हंसाय संयतगिरे निगमेश्वराय ॥ ४७ ॥
Verse text
tasmai namo bhagavate puruṣāya bhūmne
viśvāya viśva-gurave para-daivatāya
nārāyaṇāya ṛṣaye ca narottamāya
haṁsāya saṁyata-gire nigameśvarāya
viśvāya viśva-gurave para-daivatāya
nārāyaṇāya ṛṣaye ca narottamāya
haṁsāya saṁyata-gire nigameśvarāya
Synonyms
tasmai — to Him; namaḥ — my obeisances; bhagavate — to the Godhead; puruṣāya — the Supreme Person; bhūmne — the all-pervading one; viśvāya — the all-inclusive manifestation of the universe; viśva-gurave — the spiritual master of the universe; para-daivatāya — the supremely worshipable Deity; nārāyaṇāya — to Lord Nārāyaṇa; ṛṣaye — the sage; ca — and; nara-uttamāya — to the best of human beings; haṁsāya — situated in perfect purity; saṁyata-gire — who has controlled his speech; nigama-īśvarāya — the master of the Vedic scriptures.
Translation
I offer my humble obeisances to Him, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is the all-pervading and all-inclusive form of the universe, as well as its spiritual master. I bow down to Lord Nārāyaṇa, the supremely worshipable Deity appearing as a sage, and also to the saintly Nara, the best of human beings, who is fixed in perfect goodness, fully in control of his speech, and the propagator of the Vedic literatures.
Devanagari
यं वै न वेद वितथाक्षपथैर्भ्रमद्धी:
सन्तं स्वकेष्वसुषु हृद्यपि दृक्पथेषु ।
तन्माययावृतमति: स उ एव साक्षा-
दाद्यस्तवाखिलगुरोरुपसाद्य वेदम् ॥ ४८ ॥
सन्तं स्वकेष्वसुषु हृद्यपि दृक्पथेषु ।
तन्माययावृतमति: स उ एव साक्षा-
दाद्यस्तवाखिलगुरोरुपसाद्य वेदम् ॥ ४८ ॥
Verse text
yaṁ vai na veda vitathākṣa-pathair bhramad-dhīḥ
santaṁ svakeṣv asuṣu hṛdy api dṛk-patheṣu
tan-māyayāvṛta-matiḥ sa u eva sākṣād
ādyas tavākhila-guror upasādya vedam
santaṁ svakeṣv asuṣu hṛdy api dṛk-patheṣu
tan-māyayāvṛta-matiḥ sa u eva sākṣād
ādyas tavākhila-guror upasādya vedam
Synonyms
yam — whom; vai — indeed; na veda — does not recognize; vitatha — deceptive; akṣa-pathaiḥ — by methods of empirical perception; bhramat — becoming diverted; dhīḥ — whose intelligence; santam — present; svakeṣu — within one’s own; asuṣu — senses; hṛdi — within the heart; api — even; dṛk-patheṣu — among perceived objects of the external world; tat-māyayā — by His illusory potency; āvṛta — covered over; matiḥ — his understanding; saḥ — he; u — even; eva — indeed; sākṣāt — directly; ādyaḥ — originally (in ignorance); tava — of You; akhila-guroḥ — the spiritual master of all living beings; upasādya — obtaining; vedam — the knowledge of the Vedas..
Translation
A materialist, his intelligence perverted by the action of his deceptive senses, cannot recognize You at all, although You are always present within his own senses and heart and also among the objects of his perception. Yet even though one’s understanding has been covered by Your illusory potency, if one obtains Vedic knowledge from You, the supreme spiritual master of all, he can directly understand You.
Devanagari
यद्दर्शनं निगम आत्मरह:प्रकाशं
मुह्यन्ति यत्र कवयोऽजपरा यतन्त: ।
तं सर्ववादविषयप्रतिरूपशीलं
वन्दे महापुरुषमात्मनिगूढबोधम् ॥ ४९ ॥
मुह्यन्ति यत्र कवयोऽजपरा यतन्त: ।
तं सर्ववादविषयप्रतिरूपशीलं
वन्दे महापुरुषमात्मनिगूढबोधम् ॥ ४९ ॥
Verse text
yad-darśanaṁ nigama ātma-rahaḥ-prakāśaṁ
muhyanti yatra kavayo ’ja-parā yatantaḥ
taṁ sarva-vāda-viṣaya-pratirūpa-śīlaṁ
vande mahā-puruṣam ātma-nigūḍha-bodham
muhyanti yatra kavayo ’ja-parā yatantaḥ
taṁ sarva-vāda-viṣaya-pratirūpa-śīlaṁ
vande mahā-puruṣam ātma-nigūḍha-bodham
Synonyms
yat — of whom; darśanam — the vision; nigame — in the Vedas; ātma — of the Supreme Soul; rahaḥ — the mystery; prakāśam — which reveals; muhyanti — become bewildered; yatra — about which; kavayaḥ — great learned authorities; aja-parāḥ — headed by Brahmā; yatantaḥ — endeavoring; tam — to Him; sarva-vāda — of all different philosophies; viṣaya — the subject matter; pratirūpa — adjusting itself as suitable; śīlam — whose personal nature; vande — I offer my homage; mahā-puruṣam — to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; ātma — from the spirit soul; nigūḍha — hidden; bodham — understanding.
Translation
My dear Lord, the Vedic literatures alone reveal confidential knowledge of Your supreme personality, and thus even such great scholars as Lord Brahmā himself are bewildered in their attempt to understand You through empirical methods. Each philosopher understands You according to his particular speculative conclusions. I worship that Supreme Person, knowledge of whom is hidden by the bodily designations covering the conditioned soul’s spiritual identity.
Purport
Even great demigods like Brahmā are bewildered in their speculative attempts to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Each philosopher is covered by a unique combination of the modes of nature and thus describes the Supreme Truth according to his own material conditioning. Therefore even strenuous empirical endeavor will never bring one to the conclusion of all knowledge. The highest knowledge is Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and one can understand Him only by fully surrendering to Him and serving Him with love. This is why Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi states here, vande mahā-puruṣam: “I simply worship that Supreme Personality.” Those who try to worship God but at the same time continue speculating or acting fruitively will attain only mixed and bewildering results. To be pure a devotee must give up all fruitive activity and mental speculation; in that way his loving service to the Lord will yield perfect knowledge of the Supreme. Only this perfection can satisfy the eternal soul.
Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Twelfth Canto, Eighth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Mārkaṇḍeya’s Prayers to Nara-Nārāyaṇa Ṛṣi.”