Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 7
Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Tested by Indra and Blessed by Nara-Nārāyaṇa
प्राप्तद्विजातिसंस्कारो मार्कण्डेय: पितु: क्रमात् । छन्दांस्यधीत्य धर्मेण तप:स्वाध्यायसंयुत: ॥ ७ ॥ बृहद्व्रतधर: शान्तो जटिलो वल्कलाम्बर: । बिभ्रत् कमण्डलुं दण्डमुपवीतं समेखलम् ॥ ८ ॥ कृष्णाजिनं साक्षसूत्रं कुशांश्च नियमर्द्धये । अग्न्यर्कगुरुविप्रात्मस्वर्चयन् सन्ध्ययोर्हरिम् ॥ ९ ॥ सायं प्रात: स गुरवे भैक्ष्यमाहृत्य वाग्यत: । बुभुजे गुर्वनुज्ञात: सकृन्नो चेदुपोषित: ॥ १० ॥ एवं तप:स्वाध्यायपरो वर्षाणामयुतायुतम् । आराधयन् हृषीकेशं जिग्ये मृत्युं सुदुर्जयम् ॥ ११ ॥
prāpta-dvijāti-saṁskāro mārkaṇḍeyaḥ pituḥ kramāt chandāṁsy adhītya dharmeṇa tapaḥ-svādhyāya-saṁyutaḥ
After being purified by his father’s performance of the prescribed rites leading to his brahminical initiation, Mārkaṇḍeya studied the Vedic hymns and strictly followed the regulative principles. He advanced in austerity and svādhyāya and remained a lifelong brahmacārī. Peaceful in demeanor, with matted hair and bark garments, he carried a mendicant’s waterpot, staff, sacred thread, and brahmacārī belt; and to strengthen his vows he also bore black deerskin, lotus-seed prayer beads, and bundles of kuśa grass. At the sacred junctions of day he regularly worshiped Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in five forms—the sacrificial fire, the sun, his spiritual master, the brāhmaṇas, and the Paramātmā within his heart. Morning and evening he went out to beg, and on returning he offered all he had gathered to his guru. Only when permitted by his spiritual master would he silently take his single daily meal; otherwise he would fast. Thus devoted to austerity and Vedic study, Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi worshiped Hṛṣīkeśa, the Lord of the senses, for countless millions of years, and in this way he conquered unconquerable death.