Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 10

Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Meets Lord Śiva: Devotee as Living Tīrtha and the Lord’s Māyā

Devanagari script

भगवांस्तदभिज्ञाय गिरिशो योगमायया । आविशत्तद्गुहाकाशं वायुश्छिद्रमिवेश्वर: ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

bhagavāṁs tad abhijñāya giriśo yoga-māyayā āviśat tad-guhākāśaṁ vāyuś chidram iveśvaraḥ

Translation

Understanding the situation very well, the powerful Lord Śiva employed his mystic power to enter within the sky of Mārkaṇḍeya’s heart, just as the wind passes through an opening.

Synonyms

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• tat: that (fact)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; object of abhijñāya (knowing that)

• abhijñāya: having understood
• abhijñāya: Kriyā (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi+jñā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having understood/known)

• giriśaḥ: Giriśa (Śiva)
• giriśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giriśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• yoga-māyayā: by yogic māyā
• yoga-māyayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक) + māyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (yogasya māyā = yogic illusion/power)

• āviśat: entered
• āviśat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā+viś (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tat-guhā-ākāśam: the cave-space there
• tat-guhā-ākāśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक) + guhā (प्रातिपदिक) + ākāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (tasya guhāyāḥ ākāśaḥ = the space of that cave)

• vāyuḥ: wind
• vāyuḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• chidram: a hole/opening
• chidram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chidra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (comparative particle; like/as)

• īśvaraḥ: the Lord
• īśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Giriśa (Lord Śiva)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Yogamaya and divine mystic power?

This verse shows Yogamāyā as the lord’s divine mystic potency by which even entry into subtle spaces (like the interior sky of a cave) becomes effortless—compared to wind passing through an opening.

Why did Lord Shiva enter the cave in this Bhagavatam verse?

Śukadeva describes that Śiva, understanding the situation at hand, used his yogamāyā to enter the cave’s inner space—indicating purposeful, controlled movement in the unfolding narrative.

How can a devotee apply the lesson of this shloka in modern life?

It reminds one that the Lord’s will and higher power can overcome obstacles effortlessly; a devotee cultivates humility and faith rather than overreliance on material strength.