Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 26
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
Die Apsarā Puñjikasthalī tat, als spiele sie mit vielen Bällen. Unter der Last ihrer schweren Brüste wirkte ihre Taille unruhig, und der Blumenkranz in ihrem Haar geriet durcheinander. Als sie den Bällen nachlief und umherblickte, lockerte sich der Gürtel ihres feinen Gewandes; da riss der Wind ihr die Kleidung fort.
FAQs
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.