Mārkaṇḍeya’s Request to See Māyā and the Vision of the Cosmic Deluge
स कदाचिद् भ्रमंस्तस्मिन् पृथिव्या: ककुदि द्विज: । न्याग्रोधपोतं ददृशे फलपल्लवशोभितम् ॥ २० ॥
sa kadācid bhramaṁs tasmin pṛthivyāḥ kakudi dvijaḥ nyāgrodha-potaṁ dadṛśe phala-pallava-śobhitam
ذات مرة، وبينما كان البرهمن ماركاندييا يهيم في المياه، أبصر جزيرة صغيرة على ظهر الأرض، عليها شجرة بانيان فتية مزدانة بالبراعم والزهور والثمار.
This verse describes Mārkaṇḍeya’s mystical vision where, while wandering in an extraordinary realm, he beholds a beautiful young banyan tree—an important signpost in the unfolding revelation of the Lord’s inconceivable potency.
Śukadeva narrates the scene to guide Parīkṣit through Mārkaṇḍeya’s vision step-by-step, showing how the Lord arranges meaningful signs in extraordinary experiences to lead the devotee toward deeper realization.
When life feels unreal, disorienting, or beyond control, this verse reminds a seeker to look for the Lord’s guiding signs and remain steady—beauty and meaning can appear even in bewildering circumstances.