Mārkaṇḍeya’s Request to See Māyā and the Vision of the Cosmic Deluge
तावच्छिशोर्वै श्वसितेन भार्गव: सोऽन्त: शरीरं मशको यथाविशत् । तत्राप्यदो न्यस्तमचष्ट कृत्स्नशो यथा पुरामुह्यदतीव विस्मित: ॥ २७ ॥
tāvac chiśor vai śvasitena bhārgavaḥ so ’ntaḥ śarīraṁ maśako yathāviśat tatrāpy ado nyastam acaṣṭa kṛtsnaśo yathā purāmuhyad atīva vismitaḥ
En ese mismo instante el niño inhaló, y Bhārgava Mārkaṇḍeya fue atraído dentro de Su cuerpo como un mosquito. Allí el sabio vio el universo entero dispuesto por completo tal como estaba antes de la disolución. Al verlo, quedó sumamente asombrado y desconcertado.
This verse describes Mārkaṇḍeya seeing the complete universe situated within the divine child’s body, illustrating that the cosmos rests within the Supreme Lord and is displayed by His inconceivable potency (Vishnu-māyā).
Even after witnessing the cosmic devastation and then meeting the divine child, he again saw the entire universe inside that same form—an experience that surpassed ordinary perception and left him amazed by the Lord’s inconceivable līlā.
The verse encourages humility: reality is greater than our senses and concepts, so a devotee relies on bhakti, scripture, and surrender rather than pride in limited knowledge.