Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 23
Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Tested by Indra and Blessed by Nara-Nārāyaṇa
हुत्वाग्निं समुपासीनं ददृशु: शक्रकिङ्करा: । मीलिताक्षं दुराधर्षं मूर्तिमन्तमिवानलम् ॥ २३ ॥
hutvāgniṁ samupāsīnaṁ dadṛśuḥ śakra-kiṅkarāḥ mīlitākṣaṁ durādharṣaṁ mūrtimantam ivānalam
Indra’s servants beheld the sage seated in meditation, having offered the prescribed oblations into the sacrificial fire. His eyes were closed in samādhi, and he appeared unassailable—like fire itself made manifest.
FAQs
This verse portrays a worshiper who, after offering into the sacred fire, sits absorbed with closed eyes and becomes “durādharṣa”—so spiritually potent that even Indra’s servants perceive him as formidable, like embodied fire.
Indra’s attendants often appear when intense austerity threatens to alter cosmic balances; here they witness the ascetic’s concentrated worship and recognize a power that is difficult to oppose.
Steady daily sādhana—worship, disciplined habits, and focused meditation—builds inner strength and clarity, making one less shaken by distractions, fear, and external pressures.