Shloka 11
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
Así, dedicado a la austeridad y al estudio védico, el Ṛṣi Mārkaṇḍeya adoró a Bhagavān Hṛṣīkeśa, Señor de los sentidos, durante incontables millones de años, y de ese modo venció a la muerte, tan difícil de conquistar.
FAQs
This verse says that by long, unwavering worship of Hṛṣīkeśa (Śrī Hari) with austerity and sacred study, Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi conquered death—showing that devotion to the Lord overcomes what is otherwise unconquerable.
Śukadeva highlights Mārkaṇḍeya’s steadfast tapas and devotion to show Parīkṣit the power of single-minded worship of Hari, and to set the stage for the Lord’s further revelations in Mārkaṇḍeya’s narrative.
Adopt consistent spiritual discipline: daily mantra-japa, scripture reading/recitation, regulated habits, and worship centered on Hari—so the senses become purified and fear of death diminishes through devotion.