Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Tested by Indra and Blessed by Nara-Nārāyaṇa
क्रीडन्त्या: पुञ्जिकस्थल्या: कन्दुकै: स्तनगौरवात् । भृशमुद्विग्नमध्याया: केशविस्रंसितस्रज: ॥ २६ ॥ इतस्ततोभ्रमद्दृष्टेश्चलन्त्या अनुकन्दुकम् । वायुर्जहार तद्वास: सूक्ष्मं त्रुटितमेखलम् ॥ २७ ॥
krīḍantyāḥ puñjikasthalyāḥ kandukaiḥ stana-gauravāt bhṛśam udvigna-madhyāyāḥ keśa-visraṁsita-srajaḥ
أظهرت الأبسرا بُنجِكستھلي كأنها تلعب بكراتٍ كثيرة. وبثِقَل نهدَيها بدا خصرُها مضطربًا، وتبعثرت إكليلُ الزهر في شعرها. وبينما كانت تعدو وراء الكرات وتلتفت هنا وهناك، ارتخت حِزامُ ثوبها الرقيق؛ وفجأةً خطفَت الريحُ لباسَها.
In Canto 12, Chapter 8, Puñjikāsthalī appears within the Lord’s illusory manifestation that bewilders Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi, illustrating the astonishing potency of Yogamāyā.
It describes Puñjikāsthalī playing with a ball, her waist strained by the weight of her breasts, with her garland and hair becoming disordered—vivid sensory detail within an illusory scene.
The verse reminds a seeker that appearances can powerfully captivate the mind; steadiness in devotion and discernment helps one not be swept away by illusion and distraction.