Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 26

Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Tested by Indra and Blessed by Nara-Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

क्रीडन्त्या: पुञ्जिकस्थल्या: कन्दुकै: स्तनगौरवात् । भृशमुद्विग्नमध्याया: केशविस्रंसितस्रज: ॥ २६ ॥ इतस्ततोभ्रमद्‌‌दृष्टेश्चलन्त्या अनुकन्दुकम् । वायुर्जहार तद्वास: सूक्ष्मं त्रुटितमेखलम् ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

krīḍantyāḥ puñjikasthalyāḥ kandukaiḥ stana-gauravāt bhṛśam udvigna-madhyāyāḥ keśa-visraṁsita-srajaḥ

Translation

L’apsara Puñjikasthalī feignit de jouer avec de nombreuses balles. Sous le poids de sa poitrine, sa taille semblait vaciller, et la guirlande de fleurs dans ses cheveux se défit. Courant après les balles, jetant des regards de-ci de-là, la ceinture de son vêtement léger se relâcha; soudain le vent emporta ses habits.

Synonyms

• krīḍantyāḥ: of (her) playing
• krīḍantyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √krīḍ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन (singular)

• puñjikasthalyāḥ: of Puñjikasthalī
• puñjikasthalyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puñjikasthalī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन (singular)

• kandukaiḥ: with balls
• kandukaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanduka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (instrumental), बहुवचन (plural)

• stana-gauravāt: due to the heaviness of (her) breasts
• stana-gauravāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stana (प्रातिपदिक) + gaurava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), पञ्चमी (ablative), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'heaviness of the breasts'

• bhṛśam: greatly
• bhṛśam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhṛśam (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/तीव्रतावाचक-अव्यय (adverb of intensity)

• udvigna-madhyāyāḥ: of (her) with a trembling waist
• udvigna-madhyāyāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udvigna (प्रातिपदिक) + madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन (singular); कर्मधारयः: 'agitated (having) waist' qualifying Puñjikasthalī

• keśa-visraṁsita-srajaḥ: of (her) whose garland had slipped from her hair
• keśa-visraṁsita-srajaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: keśa (प्रातिपदिक) + visraṁsita (कृदन्त) + sraj (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन (singular); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: 'whose garland (sraj) has slipped (visraṁsita) from the hair (keśa)' qualifying Puñjikasthalī

Characters & Entities

• Puñjikāsthalī

FAQs

Who is Puñjikāsthalī in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

In Canto 12, Chapter 8, Puñjikāsthalī appears within the Lord’s illusory manifestation that bewilders Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi, illustrating the astonishing potency of Yogamāyā.

What does Bhagavatam 12.8.26 describe?

It describes Puñjikāsthalī playing with a ball, her waist strained by the weight of her breasts, with her garland and hair becoming disordered—vivid sensory detail within an illusory scene.

What is the practical lesson of this verse for modern life?

The verse reminds a seeker that appearances can powerfully captivate the mind; steadiness in devotion and discernment helps one not be swept away by illusion and distraction.