Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 3

Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Meets Lord Śiva: Devotee as Living Tīrtha and the Lord’s Māyā

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच तमेवं निभृतात्मानं वृषेण दिवि पर्यटन् । रुद्राण्या भगवान् रुद्रो ददर्श स्वगणैर्वृत: ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

sūta uvāca tam evaṁ nibhṛtātmānaṁ vṛṣeṇa divi paryaṭan rudrāṇyā bhagavān rudro dadarśa sva-gaṇair vṛtaḥ

Translation

Sūta dit : Parcourant le ciel sur son taureau, le Seigneur Rudra, entouré de Rudrāṇī et de ses compagnons, aperçut Mārkaṇḍeya plongé en transe.

Synonyms

• sūtaḥ: Sūta
• sūtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc. 2nd), Ekavacana

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb)

• nibhṛta-ātmānam: the self-restrained one
• nibhṛta-ātmānam: Karma (कर्म) (apposition to tam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nibhṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc. 2nd), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: nibhṛtaḥ ātmā yasya / nibhṛta-ātmā (one whose self is restrained)

• vṛṣeṇa: by/with a bull
• vṛṣeṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instr. 3rd), Ekavacana

• divi: in heaven
• divi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: div (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (Vedic/irregular; commonly treated as feminine), Saptamī (Loc. 7th), Ekavacana

• paryaṭan: wandering about
• paryaṭan: Karta (कर्ता) (qualifying rudraḥ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pari√aṭ (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya (present active participle), Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada sense

• rudrāṇyā: with Rudrāṇī (Pārvatī)
• rudrāṇyā: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudrāṇī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instr. 3rd), Ekavacana

• bhagavān: the blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of rudraḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana

• rudraḥ: Rudra (Śiva)
• rudraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• sva-gaṇaiḥ: with his own attendants
• sva-gaṇaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instr. 3rd), Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: svāḥ gaṇāḥ (his own attendants)

• vṛtaḥ: surrounded
• vṛtaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्ता-समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛ (धातु) → vṛta (कृदन्त, भूतकृदन्त/PPP)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana; kta-pratyaya; agrees with rudraḥ

Characters & Entities

• Suta Gosvami
• Rudra (Shiva)
• Rudrani (Parvati)
• Nandi (the bull mount)
• Shiva's ganas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Shiva (Rudra) appearing with his ganas?

This verse depicts Rudra as “bhagavān,” accompanied by Rudrāṇī and surrounded by his gaṇas, emphasizing his divine majesty and his role as a powerful deva who witnesses and participates in sacred events.

Why is Rudrani (Parvati) mentioned along with Lord Shiva in this verse?

The verse highlights Rudra’s presence together with Rudrāṇī, presenting him in his complete divine context—Śiva with Śakti—attended by his followers, underscoring the grandeur of the encounter.

Practical application: what can a devotee learn from 'nibhṛtātmā' (self-controlled) in modern life?

Cultivating a restrained, steady mind supports spiritual perception and right action; self-control helps a devotee stay focused on dharma and devotion even amid distraction and change.