Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 36

Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Tested by Indra and Blessed by Nara-Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

स तत्सन्दर्शनानन्दनिर्वृतात्मेन्द्रियाशय: । हृष्टरोमाश्रुपूर्णाक्षो न सेहे तावुदीक्षितुम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

sa tat-sandarśanānanda- nirvṛtātmendriyāśayaḥ hṛṣṭa-romāśru-pūrṇākṣo na sehe tāv udīkṣitum

Translation

The ecstasy of beholding Them fully satisfied Mārkaṇḍeya’s body, mind, and senses. His hairs stood on end and his eyes brimmed with tears; overwhelmed by bliss, he could scarcely look upon Them.

Synonyms

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (Singular)

• तत्-सन्दर्शन-आनन्द-निर्वृत-आत्म-इन्द्रिय-आशयः: whose self, senses, and mind were soothed by the bliss of seeing Him
• तत्-सन्दर्शन-आनन्द-निर्वृत-आत्म-इन्द्रिय-आशयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम) + सन्दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्वृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + आशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समासः; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘सः’)

• हृष्ट-रोम-अश्रु-पूर्ण-अक्षः: with hair standing on end and eyes filled with tears
• हृष्ट-रोम-अश्रु-पूर्ण-अक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष्ट (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + रोमन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्ण (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समासः; पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम् (Singular); विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘सः’)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेधः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपातः (negation particle)

• सेहे: could endure / was able
• सेहे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (Singular), आत्मनेपदम्

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचनम् (Dual)

• उदीक्षितुम्: to gaze at
• उदीक्षितुम्: Karma-prayojana (कर्म-प्रयोजनम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), ‘to look at’

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi
• Śrī Hari (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What are the symptoms of bhakti ecstasy described in Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse describes classic devotional ecstasy: inner satisfaction upon the Lord’s darśana, hairs standing on end, and eyes filling with tears—showing the heart’s deep absorption in Bhagavān.

Why could Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi not keep looking at the Lord for long?

Because the bliss and intensity of seeing the Lord overwhelmed him—his body and mind erupted in devotional emotion (tears and horripilation), making sustained gazing unbearable.

How can this verse be applied in modern spiritual practice?

It teaches that genuine devotion is not merely intellectual: through sincere sādhana (hearing, chanting, and remembrance), the heart becomes purified and naturally responds with deep humility, gratitude, and absorption in God.