Shloka 23
Mārkaṇḍeya’s Consolation to the King: Exempla of Rāma and the Efficacy of Allies (मार्कण्डेयाश्वासनम्)
ब्रह्माजी बोले--पुत्रो! मैं तुम सबपर प्रसन्न हूँ, वर माँगो और तपस्यासे निवृत्त हो जाओ। केवल अमरत्वको छोड़कर जिसकी जो-जो इच्छा हो, उसके अनुसार वह वर माँगे। उसका वह मनोरथ पूर्ण होगा ।। यद् यदग्नौ हुतं सर्व शिरस्ते महदीप्सया । तथैव तानि ते देहे भविष्यन्ति यथेप्सया
yad yad agnau hutaṁ sarvaṁ śiras te mahad-īpsayā | tathaiva tāni te dehe bhaviṣyanti yathepsayā ||
Mārkaṇḍeya sprach: Brahmā erklärte, er sei zufrieden, und lud den Asketen ein, Gaben zu erbitten—nur Unsterblichkeit ausgenommen. Dann bekräftigte er eine besondere Zusicherung: Alles, was mit glühendem Entschluss ins Feuer geopfert worden war, werde dem Bittenden in leiblicher Gestalt zurückkehren, genau nach seinem Wunsch.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that offerings made with intense, disciplined intention (īpsā/saṅkalpa) are not wasted: when validated by divine grace, they mature into concrete results, even taking embodied form. It also implies a moral boundary to boons—immortality is excluded—highlighting the cosmic order that even gods uphold.
In Mārkaṇḍeya’s narration, Brahmā appears, expresses satisfaction with the ascetic’s austerities, and grants boons (except immortality). He specifically assures that whatever was offered into the sacrificial fire with great resolve will manifest for the petitioner exactly as wished.