Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 20

Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Tested by Indra and Blessed by Nara-Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

तदाश्रमपदं पुण्यं पुण्यद्रुमलताञ्चितम् । पुण्यद्विजकुलाकीर्णं पुण्यामलजलाशयम् ॥ १८ ॥ मत्तभ्रमरसङ्गीतं मत्तकोकिलकूजितम् । मत्तबर्हिनटाटोपं मत्तद्विजकुलाकुलम् ॥ १९ ॥ वायु: प्रविष्ट आदाय हिमनिर्झरशीकरान् । सुमनोभि: परिष्वक्तो ववावुत्तम्भयन् स्मरम् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

tad-āśrama-padaṁ puṇyaṁ puṇya-druma-latāñcitam puṇya-dvija-kulākīrṇaṁ puṇyāmala-jalāśayam

Translation

The spring breeze sent by Indra entered the āśrama, carrying cool spray from nearby waterfalls. Embraced by the fragrance of forest flowers, it began to awaken the mood of Kāma within the heart.

Synonyms

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• āśrama-padam: the hermitage-site/abode
• āśrama-padam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśrama + pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘āśramasya padam’

• puṇyam: holy, auspicious
• puṇyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; adjective qualifying āśrama-padam

• puṇya-druma-latā-añcitam: adorned with sacred trees and creepers
• puṇya-druma-latā-añcitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya + druma + latā + añcita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √añc/añj ‘to adorn’)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; past participle used adjectivally; compound sense: ‘adorned with holy trees and creepers’

• puṇya-dvija-kula-ākīrṇam: filled with sacred birds (dvijas) in flocks
• puṇya-dvija-kula-ākīrṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya + dvija + kula + ākīrṇa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √kṝ ‘to scatter, strew’ with ā-)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; past participle; ‘filled with holy groups of birds/twice-born’

• puṇya-amala-jala-āśayam: a holy reservoir of pure water
• puṇya-amala-jala-āśayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya + amala + jala + āśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; multi-member tatpuruṣa: ‘puṇyaṃ ca amalaṃ ca jalaṃ yasmin sa āśayaḥ’ (determinative)

• matta-bhramara-saṅgītam: resounding with the song of drunken bees
• matta-bhramara-saṅgītam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matta + bhramara + saṅgīta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; ‘having the music of intoxicated bees’ (descriptive determinative)

• matta-kokila-kūjitam: echoing with cuckoos’ cooing
• matta-kokila-kūjitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matta + kokila + kūjita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √kūj ‘to coo’)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; past participle; ‘cooed by intoxicated cuckoos’

• matta-barhi-naṭa-āṭopam: with the exuberant display of peacocks
• matta-barhi-naṭa-āṭopam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matta + barhin + naṭa + āṭopa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; ‘having the display/dance of intoxicated peacocks’

• matta-dvija-kula-ākulam: teeming with excited flocks of birds
• matta-dvija-kula-ākulam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matta + dvija + kula + ākula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; ‘crowded/confused with intoxicated flocks of birds’

• vāyuḥ: the wind
• vāyuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; subject

• praviṣṭaḥ: having entered
• praviṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-viṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √viś ‘to enter’)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; past participle agreeing with vāyuḥ

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√dā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), avyaya; ‘having taken’

• hima-nirjhara-śikarān: icy waterfall-sprays
• hima-nirjhara-śikarān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hima + nirjhara + śikara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘sprays/droplets of icy waterfalls’

• sumanobhiḥ: with flowers
• sumanobhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sumana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (collective) or Masculine usage; Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; here ‘with flowers’

• pariṣvaktaḥ: embraced/covered
• pariṣvaktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pariṣvakta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √svañj/√ṣvaj ‘to embrace’ with pari-)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; past participle agreeing with vāyuḥ; ‘embraced/covered’

• vavāva: blew
• vavāva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• uttambhayan: stirring up
• uttambhayan: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut-√stambh (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agreeing with vāyuḥ; ‘raising/stimulating’

• smaram: Love (Kāma)
• smaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: smara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of uttambhayan

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the power of a sacred hermitage (āśrama)?

This verse portrays the āśrama as inherently purifying—made holy by saintly company, pure water, and sattvic natural beauty that elevates consciousness.

Why is Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi’s hermitage described in such detail in Canto 12?

Śukadeva describes it to show the spiritually charged setting where Mārkaṇḍeya’s extraordinary experiences and realizations unfold.

Practical application: how can one create an ‘āśrama-like’ atmosphere today?

Keep a clean, sattvic space, seek saintly association (satsaṅga), and maintain purity through regular sādhana—making one’s home a place of devotion and clarity.