Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 32

Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Tested by Indra and Blessed by Nara-Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

तस्यैवं युञ्जतश्चित्तं तप:स्वाध्यायसंयमै: । अनुग्रहायाविरासीन्नरनारायणो हरि: ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

tasyaivaṁ yuñjataś cittaṁ tapaḥ-svādhyāya-saṁyamaiḥ anugrahāyāvirāsīn nara-nārāyaṇo hariḥ

Translation

To bestow His mercy upon saintly Mārkaṇḍeya, whose mind was perfectly fixed in self-realization through austerity, Vedic study, and disciplined restraint, Śrī Hari—the Supreme Personality of Godhead—personally appeared before him as Nara and Nārāyaṇa.

Synonyms

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable (अव्यय); adverb

• yuñjataḥ: of (him) who was concentrating/applying
• yuñjataḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध; genitive absolute-like: ‘while he was applying’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yuj (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमानकृदन्त), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular, Masculine/Neuter; from √yuj ‘to yoke/apply’; agreeing with ‘tasya’

• cittam: mind
• cittam: Karma (कर्म; object of implied ‘yuñjataḥ’—mind being fixed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tapaḥ-svādhyāya-saṁyamaiḥ: by austerity, self-study, and restraints
• tapaḥ-svādhyāya-saṁyamaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण; means/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas + svādhyāya + saṁyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; itaretara-dvandva: ‘tapas’ (austerity) + ‘svādhyāya’ (self-study) + ‘saṁyama’ (restraint)

• anugrahāya: for (showing) favor/grace
• anugrahāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान; beneficiary/purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anugraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; purpose

• āvirāsīt: appeared, manifested
• āvirāsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√bhū / āvir-√as (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; ‘appeared/became manifest’ (āvirāsīt)

• nara-nārāyaṇaḥ: Nara-Nārāyaṇa
• nara-nārāyaṇaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता; subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara + nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; dvandva name ‘Nara and Nārāyaṇa’ used as a single dual-deity designation

• hariḥ: Hari
• hariḥ: Kartā (कर्ता; subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition to ‘nara-nārāyaṇaḥ’

Characters & Entities

• Nara-Nārāyaṇa
• Hari

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about getting the Lord’s mercy through tapasya and self-control?

This verse states that when one steadies the mind by austerity (tapaḥ), sacred study (svādhyāya), and restraint (saṁyama), Lord Hari can personally manifest to bestow anugraha—His grace.

Why did Nara-Nārāyaṇa Hari appear before the sage in Canto 12 Chapter 8?

He appeared specifically “for showing favor” (anugrahāya) because the sage had deeply engaged his mind through disciplined spiritual practices—demonstrating sincerity and steadiness.

How can I apply tapaḥ, svādhyāya, and saṁyama in modern life according to this shloka?

Adopt consistent spiritual discipline: simple austerities (regulated habits), daily scriptural reading/chanting, and mindful self-restraint—so the mind becomes steady and receptive to divine guidance and grace.