Adhyaya 9

Verse 1

सूत उवाच संस्तुतो भगवानित्थं मार्कण्डेयेन धीमता । नारायणो नरसख: प्रीत आह भृगूद्वहम् ॥ १ ॥

Sūta Gosvāmī said: Thus properly glorified by the intelligent sage Mārkaṇḍeya, the Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa, the friend of Nara, became pleased and addressed that excellent descendant of Bhṛgu.

Verse 2

श्रीभगवानुवाच भो भो ब्रह्मर्षिवर्योऽसि सिद्ध आत्मसमाधिना । मयि भक्त्यानपायिन्या तप:स्वाध्यायसंयमै: ॥ २ ॥

The Supreme Lord said: O noble sage, you are indeed the foremost of the brahmarṣis. You have perfected your life by steady samādhi upon the Supreme Soul, and by unwavering bhakti to Me—together with austerity, Vedic study, and strict self-discipline.

Verse 3

वयं ते परितुष्टा: स्म त्वद् बृहद्‌व्रतचर्यया । वरं प्रतीच्छ भद्रं ते वरदोऽस्मि त्वदीप्सितम् ॥ ३ ॥

We are completely satisfied with your observance of this great vow. May auspiciousness be yours—choose whatever benediction you desire; I am the giver of boons and will grant your cherished wish.

Verse 4

श्रीऋषिरुवाच जितं ते देवदेवेश प्रपन्नार्तिहराच्युत । वरेणैतावतालं नो यद् भवान् समद‍ृश्यत ॥ ४ ॥

The sage said: All victory to You, O Lord of lords! O Acyuta, You remove the distress of devotees who surrender to You. For me, this alone is sufficient as a boon—that You have granted me Your divine audience.

Verse 5

गृहीत्वाजादयो यस्य श्रीमत्पादाब्जदर्शनम् । मनसा योगपक्वेन स भवान् मेऽक्षिगोचर: ॥ ५ ॥

With minds matured by yoga, demigods such as Brahmā attained their exalted stations simply by beholding Your beautiful lotus feet; and now, my Lord, You Yourself have appeared before my eyes.

Verse 6

अथाप्यम्बुजपत्राक्ष पुण्यश्लोकशिखामणे । द्रक्ष्ये मायां यया लोक: सपालो वेद सद्भ‍िदाम् ॥ ६ ॥

O lotus-eyed Lord, crest jewel of the renowned, though I am satisfied simply by seeing You, I still wish to behold Your māyā potency, by whose influence the entire world, along with its ruling demigods, takes reality to be materially variegated.

Verse 7

सूत उवाच इतीडितोऽर्चित: काममृषिणा भगवान् मुने । तथेति स स्मयन् प्रागाद् बदर्याश्रममीश्वर: ॥ ७ ॥

Sūta Gosvāmī said: O wise Śaunaka, pleased by Mārkaṇḍeya’s praise and worship, the Supreme Personality of Godhead smiled and replied, “So be it,” and then departed for His hermitage at Badarikāśrama.

Verse 8

तमेव चिन्तयन्नर्थमृषि: स्वाश्रम एव स: । वसन्नग्‍न्यर्कसोमाम्बुभूवायुवियदात्मसु ॥ ८ ॥ ध्यायन् सर्वत्र च हरिं भावद्रव्यैरपूजयत् । क्‍वचित् पूजां विसस्मार प्रेमप्रसरसम्प्लुत: ॥ ९ ॥

Ever thinking of his desire to behold the Lord’s illusory energy, the sage remained in his own āśrama. He constantly meditated on Hari everywhere—within fire, the sun, the moon, water, earth, air, lightning, the sky, and his own heart—and worshiped Him with paraphernalia conceived in the mind; yet at times, flooded by waves of love for the Lord, he forgot his regular worship.

Verse 9

तमेव चिन्तयन्नर्थमृषि: स्वाश्रम एव स: । वसन्नग्‍न्यर्कसोमाम्बुभूवायुवियदात्मसु ॥ ८ ॥ ध्यायन् सर्वत्र च हरिं भावद्रव्यैरपूजयत् । क्‍वचित् पूजां विसस्मार प्रेमप्रसरसम्प्लुत: ॥ ९ ॥

Ever thinking of his desire to behold the Lord’s illusory energy, the sage remained in his own āśrama. He constantly meditated on Hari everywhere—within fire, the sun, the moon, water, earth, air, lightning, the sky, and his own heart—and worshiped Him with paraphernalia conceived in the mind; yet at times, flooded by waves of love for the Lord, he forgot his regular worship.

Verse 10

तस्यैकदा भृगुश्रेष्ठ पुष्पभद्रातटे मुने: । उपासीनस्य सन्ध्यायां ब्रह्मन् वायुरभून्महान् ॥ १० ॥

O Śaunaka, brāhmaṇa, best of the Bhṛgus: one day, as the sage Mārkaṇḍeya sat performing his evening worship on the bank of the Puṣpabhadrā, a mighty wind suddenly arose.

Verse 11

तं चण्डशब्दं समुदीरयन्तं बलाहका अन्वभवन् कराला: । अक्षस्थविष्ठा मुमुचुस्तडिद्भ‍ि: स्वनन्त उच्चैरभिवर्षधारा: ॥ ११ ॥

That wind raised a dreadful roar, and in its wake came fearsome clouds; with lightning and booming thunder they poured on every side torrents of rain, heavy as wagon wheels.

Verse 12

ततो व्यद‍ृश्यन्त चतु:समुद्रा: समन्तत: क्ष्मातलमाग्रसन्त: । समीरवेगोर्मिभिरुग्रनक्र- महाभयावर्तगभीरघोषा: ॥ १२ ॥

Then the four great oceans appeared on every side, swallowing the earth’s surface with waves driven by the wind; within them were dreadful sea monsters, fearful whirlpools, and ominous, deep rumblings.

Verse 13

अन्तर्बहिश्चाद्भ‍िरतिद्युभि: खरै: शतह्रदाभिरुपतापितं जगत् । चतुर्विधं वीक्ष्य सहात्मना मुनि- र्जलाप्लुतां क्ष्मां विमना: समत्रसत् ॥ १३ ॥

The sage saw all beings in the universe, himself included, tormented within and without by harsh winds, lightning, and vast waves rising beyond the sky. As the whole earth became flooded, he grew bewildered and afraid.

Verse 14

तस्यैवमुद्वीक्षत ऊर्मिभीषण: प्रभञ्जनाघूर्णितवार्महार्णव: । आपूर्यमाणो वरषद्भ‍िरम्बुदै: क्ष्मामप्यधाद् द्वीपवर्षाद्रिभि: समम् ॥ १४ ॥

Even as Mārkaṇḍeya watched, the clouds’ downpour filled the ocean more and more, until that vast sea—lashed by hurricanes into terrifying waves—covered the entire earth with its islands, mountains, and continents.

Verse 15

सक्ष्मान्तरिक्षं सदिवं सभागणं त्रैलोक्यमासीत् सह दिग्भिराप्लुतम् । स एक एवोर्वरितो महामुनि- र्बभ्राम विक्षिप्य जटा जडान्धवत् ॥ १५ ॥

The waters inundated earth, sky, heaven, and the realm of the gods; the entire threefold universe was flooded in every direction. Of all beings only the great sage Mārkaṇḍeya remained; his matted locks scattered, he wandered alone upon the waters as if mute and blind.

Verse 16

क्षुत्तृट्परीतो मकरैस्तिमिङ्गिलै- रुपद्रुतो वीचिनभस्वता हत: । तमस्यपारे पतितो भ्रमन् दिशो न वेद खं गां च परिश्रमेषित: ॥ १६ ॥

Tormented by hunger and thirst, assailed by makaras and timiṅgila fish, and battered by wind and waves, he fell into boundless darkness. Worn out, he wandered without direction, unable to distinguish sky from earth.

Verse 17

क्‍वचिन्मग्नो महावर्ते तरलैस्ताडित: क्‍वचित् । यादोभिर्भक्ष्यते क्‍वापि स्वयमन्योन्यघातिभि: ॥ १७ ॥ क्‍वचिच्छोकं क्‍वचिन्मोहं क्‍वचिद्दु:खं सुखं भयम् । क्‍वचिन्मृत्युमवाप्नोति व्याध्यादिभिरुतार्दित: ॥ १८ ॥

At times he was swallowed by great whirlpools, at times struck by mighty waves; and at other times aquatic monsters, battling one another, threatened to devour him. Sometimes he felt grief, sometimes bewilderment—sometimes misery, sometimes happiness, sometimes fear; and sometimes, wracked by disease and pain, he felt as though death itself had come.

Verse 18

क्‍वचिन्मग्नो महावर्ते तरलैस्ताडित: क्‍वचित् । यादोभिर्भक्ष्यते क्‍वापि स्वयमन्योन्यघातिभि: ॥ १७ ॥ क्‍वचिच्छोकं क्‍वचिन्मोहं क्‍वचिद्दु:खं सुखं भयम् । क्‍वचिन्मृत्युमवाप्नोति व्याध्यादिभिरुतार्दित: ॥ १८ ॥

At times he was swallowed by great whirlpools, at times struck by mighty waves; and at other times aquatic monsters, battling one another, threatened to devour him. Sometimes he felt grief, sometimes bewilderment—sometimes misery, sometimes happiness, sometimes fear; and sometimes, wracked by disease and pain, he felt as though death itself had come.

Verse 19

अयुतायुतवर्षाणां सहस्राणि शतानि च । व्यतीयुर्भ्रमतस्तस्मिन् विष्णुमायावृतात्मन: ॥ १९ ॥

As Mārkaṇḍeya wandered within that deluge, his mind covered by the māyā of Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, countless millions of years—thousands and hundreds of ages—passed by.

Verse 20

स कदाचिद् भ्रमंस्तस्मिन् पृथिव्या: ककुदि द्विज: । न्याग्रोधपोतं दद‍ृशे फलपल्ल‍वशोभितम् ॥ २० ॥

Once, while wandering upon the waters, the brāhmaṇa Mārkaṇḍeya beheld a tiny island upon the earth’s back, where stood a young banyan tree, radiant with blossoms, fruits, and tender leaves.

Verse 21

प्रागुत्तरस्यां शाखायां तस्यापि दद‍ृशे शिशुम् । शयानं पर्णपुटके ग्रसन्तं प्रभया तम: ॥ २१ ॥

Upon a branch on the tree’s northeast side he saw an infant lying within a leaf, whose effulgence was swallowing up the darkness.

Verse 22

महामरकतश्यामं श्रीमद्वदनपङ्कजम् । कम्बुग्रीवं महोरस्कं सुनसं सुन्दरभ्रुवम् ॥ २२ ॥ श्वासैजदलकाभातं कम्बुश्रीकर्णदाडिमम् । विद्रुमाधरभासेषच्छोणायितसुधास्मितम् ॥ २३ ॥ पद्मगर्भारुणापाङ्गं हृद्यहासावलोकनम् । श्वासैजद्वलिसंविग्ननिम्ननाभिदलोदरम् ॥ २४ ॥ चार्वङ्गुलिभ्यां पाणिभ्यामुन्नीय चरणाम्बुजम् । मुखे निधाय विप्रेन्द्रो धयन्तं वीक्ष्य विस्मित: ॥ २५ ॥

The infant was dark blue like flawless emerald; His lotus face shone with splendor, and His throat bore conchlike lines. Broad-chested, with a fine nose and lovely brows, He had ears like pomegranate blossoms with inner folds like a conch’s spirals. The corners of His eyes were reddish like a lotus heart, and the coral glow of His lips gently tinted His nectarean smile. With each breath His hair trembled, and the folds of His banyan-leaf-like belly moved around His deep navel. The exalted brāhmaṇa, amazed, saw Him lift His lotus foot with graceful fingers, place a toe in His mouth, and suck.

Verse 23

महामरकतश्यामं श्रीमद्वदनपङ्कजम् । कम्बुग्रीवं महोरस्कं सुनसं सुन्दरभ्रुवम् ॥ २२ ॥ श्वासैजदलकाभातं कम्बुश्रीकर्णदाडिमम् । विद्रुमाधरभासेषच्छोणायितसुधास्मितम् ॥ २३ ॥ पद्मगर्भारुणापाङ्गं हृद्यहासावलोकनम् । श्वासैजद्वलिसंविग्ननिम्ननाभिदलोदरम् ॥ २४ ॥ चार्वङ्गुलिभ्यां पाणिभ्यामुन्नीय चरणाम्बुजम् । मुखे निधाय विप्रेन्द्रो धयन्तं वीक्ष्य विस्मित: ॥ २५ ॥

The infant was dark blue like flawless emerald; His lotus face shone with splendor, and His throat bore conchlike lines. Broad-chested, with a fine nose and lovely brows, He had ears like pomegranate blossoms with inner folds like a conch’s spirals. The corners of His eyes were reddish like a lotus heart, and the coral glow of His lips gently tinted His nectarean smile. With each breath His hair trembled, and the folds of His banyan-leaf-like belly moved around His deep navel. The exalted brāhmaṇa, amazed, saw Him lift His lotus foot with graceful fingers, place a toe in His mouth, and suck.

Verse 24

महामरकतश्यामं श्रीमद्वदनपङ्कजम् । कम्बुग्रीवं महोरस्कं सुनसं सुन्दरभ्रुवम् ॥ २२ ॥ श्वासैजदलकाभातं कम्बुश्रीकर्णदाडिमम् । विद्रुमाधरभासेषच्छोणायितसुधास्मितम् ॥ २३ ॥ पद्मगर्भारुणापाङ्गं हृद्यहासावलोकनम् । श्वासैजद्वलिसंविग्ननिम्ननाभिदलोदरम् ॥ २४ ॥ चार्वङ्गुलिभ्यां पाणिभ्यामुन्नीय चरणाम्बुजम् । मुखे निधाय विप्रेन्द्रो धयन्तं वीक्ष्य विस्मित: ॥ २५ ॥

The infant was dark blue like flawless emerald; His lotus face shone with splendor, and His throat bore conchlike lines. Broad-chested, with a fine nose and lovely brows, He had ears like pomegranate blossoms with inner folds like a conch’s spirals. The corners of His eyes were reddish like a lotus heart, and the coral glow of His lips gently tinted His nectarean smile. With each breath His hair trembled, and the folds of His banyan-leaf-like belly moved around His deep navel. The exalted brāhmaṇa, amazed, saw Him lift His lotus foot with graceful fingers, place a toe in His mouth, and suck.

Verse 25

महामरकतश्यामं श्रीमद्वदनपङ्कजम् । कम्बुग्रीवं महोरस्कं सुनसं सुन्दरभ्रुवम् ॥ २२ ॥ श्वासैजदलकाभातं कम्बुश्रीकर्णदाडिमम् । विद्रुमाधरभासेषच्छोणायितसुधास्मितम् ॥ २३ ॥ पद्मगर्भारुणापाङ्गं हृद्यहासावलोकनम् । श्वासैजद्वलिसंविग्ननिम्ननाभिदलोदरम् ॥ २४ ॥ चार्वङ्गुलिभ्यां पाणिभ्यामुन्नीय चरणाम्बुजम् । मुखे निधाय विप्रेन्द्रो धयन्तं वीक्ष्य विस्मित: ॥ २५ ॥

The infant was dark blue like a flawless emerald. His lotus face shone with splendor; His throat bore conchshell-like lines; His chest was broad, His nose finely shaped, His eyebrows beautiful, and His lovely ears resembled pomegranate blossoms with inner folds like a conch’s spirals. The corners of His eyes were reddish like the heart of a lotus, and the glow of His coral lips slightly reddened His nectarean, enchanting smile. As He breathed, His hair trembled, and His deep navel was disturbed by the moving folds of His banyan-leaf-like abdomen. The exalted brāhmaṇa watched in amazement as the child lifted His own lotus foot with graceful fingers, placed a toe in His mouth, and began to suck.

Verse 26

तद्दर्शनाद् वीतपरिश्रमो मुदा प्रोत्फुल्ल‍हृत्पद्मविलोचनाम्बुज: । प्रहृष्टरोमाद्भ‍ुतभावशङ्कित: प्रष्टुं पुरस्तं प्रससार बालकम् ॥ २६ ॥

As Mārkaṇḍeya beheld the child, all his weariness vanished. In joy, the lotus of his heart and the lotus of his eyes fully blossomed, and the hairs on his body stood on end. Wondering in amazement who this marvelous infant might be, the sage stepped forward to question Him.

Verse 27

तावच्छिशोर्वै श्वसितेन भार्गव: सोऽन्त: शरीरं मशको यथाविशत् । तत्राप्यदो न्यस्तमचष्ट कृत्‍स्‍नशो यथा पुरामुह्यदतीव विस्मित: ॥ २७ ॥

Just then the child inhaled, drawing Bhārgava Mārkaṇḍeya into His body like a mosquito. Within, the sage saw the entire universe displayed exactly as it had been before dissolution. At this sight he was utterly astonished and bewildered.

Verse 28

खं रोदसी भागणानद्रिसागरान् द्वीपान् सवर्षान् ककुभ: सुरासुरान् । वनानि देशान् सरित: पुराकरान् खेटान् व्रजानाश्रमवर्णवृत्तय: ॥ २८ ॥ महान्ति भूतान्यथ भौतिकान्यसौ कालं च नानायुगकल्पकल्पनम् । यत् किञ्चिदन्यद् व्यवहारकारणं ददर्श विश्वं सदिवावभासितम् ॥ २९ ॥

The sage beheld the entire universe: the sky, heaven and earth, the stars, mountains and oceans, the great islands and continents, the expanses in every direction, and the hosts of devas and asuras. He saw forests and lands, rivers, cities and mines, farming villages and cow pastures, and the worldly duties and spiritual disciplines of the various orders of varṇa and āśrama. He also saw the great elements of creation with all their transformations, and Time itself, which governs the unfolding of countless yugas and kalpas within the days of Brahmā. Beyond this, he saw everything else fashioned for the purposes of material life—manifest before him as though wholly real.

Verse 29

खं रोदसी भागणानद्रिसागरान् द्वीपान् सवर्षान् ककुभ: सुरासुरान् । वनानि देशान् सरित: पुराकरान् खेटान् व्रजानाश्रमवर्णवृत्तय: ॥ २८ ॥ महान्ति भूतान्यथ भौतिकान्यसौ कालं च नानायुगकल्पकल्पनम् । यत् किञ्चिदन्यद् व्यवहारकारणं ददर्श विश्वं सदिवावभासितम् ॥ २९ ॥

The sage saw the entire universe: the sky, heaven and earth, the stars, mountains and oceans, the great islands and continents, the expanses in every direction, and the hosts of devas and asuras. He saw forests and lands, rivers, cities and mines, farming villages and cow pastures, and the worldly duties and spiritual disciplines of the various orders of varṇa and āśrama. He also saw the great elements of creation with all their transformations, and Time itself, which governs the unfolding of countless yugas and kalpas within the days of Brahmā. Beyond this, he saw everything else fashioned for the purposes of material life—manifest before him as though wholly real.

Verse 30

हिमालयं पुष्पवहां च तां नदीं निजाश्रमं यत्र ऋषी अपश्यत । विश्वं विपश्यञ्छ्वसिताच्छिशोर्वै बहिर्निरस्तो न्यपतल्ल‍याब्धौ ॥ ३० ॥

He beheld the Himālaya, the Puṣpabhadrā River, and his own hermitage where he had received the darśana of the sages Nara and Nārāyaṇa. Then, as Mārkaṇḍeya gazed upon the entire universe, the Infant exhaled, cast the sage out from His body, and flung him back into the ocean of dissolution.

Verse 31

तस्मिन् पृथिव्या: ककुदि प्ररूढं वटं च तत्पर्णपुटे शयानम् । तोकं च तत्प्रेमसुधास्मितेन निरीक्षितोऽपाङ्गनिरीक्षणेन ॥ ३१ ॥ अथ तं बालकं वीक्ष्य नेत्राभ्यां धिष्ठितं हृदि । अभ्ययादतिसङ्‌‌‌क्लिष्ट: परिष्वक्तुमधोक्षजम् ॥ ३२ ॥

In that vast sea he again saw the banyan tree upon the tiny island and the Infant lying within the fold of its leaf. The Child glanced at him from the corner of His eyes, smiling with the nectar of love, and Mārkaṇḍeya drew Him into his heart through his gaze. Trembling with agitation, the sage ran forward to embrace the transcendent Lord, Adhokṣaja.

Verse 32

तस्मिन् पृथिव्या: ककुदि प्ररूढं वटं च तत्पर्णपुटे शयानम् । तोकं च तत्प्रेमसुधास्मितेन निरीक्षितोऽपाङ्गनिरीक्षणेन ॥ ३१ ॥ अथ तं बालकं वीक्ष्य नेत्राभ्यां धिष्ठितं हृदि । अभ्ययादतिसङ्‌‌‌क्लिष्ट: परिष्वक्तुमधोक्षजम् ॥ ३२ ॥

In that vast sea he again saw the banyan tree upon the tiny island and the Infant lying within the fold of its leaf. The Child glanced at him from the corner of His eyes, smiling with the nectar of love, and Mārkaṇḍeya drew Him into his heart through his gaze. Trembling with agitation, the sage ran forward to embrace the transcendent Lord, Adhokṣaja.

Verse 33

तावत् स भगवान् साक्षाद् योगाधीशो गुहाशय: । अन्तर्दध ऋषे: सद्यो यथेहानीशनिर्मिता ॥ ३३ ॥

At that very moment the Supreme Lord Himself—the original master of all yoga, hidden within the cave of everyone’s heart—became invisible to the sage, just as the attainments of an incompetent person can suddenly vanish.

Verse 34

तमन्वथ वटो ब्रह्मन् सलिलं लोकसम्प्लव: । तिरोधायि क्षणादस्य स्वाश्रमे पूर्ववत्स्थित: ॥ ३४ ॥

After the Lord disappeared, O brāhmaṇa, the banyan tree, the vast waters, and the cosmic flood of dissolution all vanished in an instant; and at once Mārkaṇḍeya found himself back in his own hermitage, just as before.