Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 31
Mārkaṇḍeya’s Request to See Māyā and the Vision of the Cosmic Deluge
तस्मिन् पृथिव्या: ककुदि प्ररूढं वटं च तत्पर्णपुटे शयानम् । तोकं च तत्प्रेमसुधास्मितेन निरीक्षितोऽपाङ्गनिरीक्षणेन ॥ ३१ ॥ अथ तं बालकं वीक्ष्य नेत्राभ्यां धिष्ठितं हृदि । अभ्ययादतिसङ्क्लिष्ट: परिष्वक्तुमधोक्षजम् ॥ ३२ ॥
tasmin pṛthivyāḥ kakudi prarūḍhaṁ vaṭaṁ ca tat-parṇa-puṭe śayānam tokaṁ ca tat-prema-sudhā-smitena nirīkṣito ’pāṅga-nirīkṣaṇena
Dans cette mer immense, il revit le banian poussant sur le minuscule îlot et l’Enfant couché dans le creux de la feuille. L’Enfant le regarda du coin de l’œil, souriant d’un nectar d’amour; et Mārkaṇḍeya Le reçut en son cœur par le regard. Bouleversé, le sage courut pour enlacer le Seigneur Adhokṣaja, transcendant.
FAQs
The child is the Supreme Lord (often identified as Bāla-Nārāyaṇa), revealing Himself to Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi in a wondrous vision.
It signifies the Lord’s affectionate, grace-filled acknowledgment of His devotee—His glance carries divine mercy, and His smile expresses loving intimacy.
By cultivating steady remembrance and devotion, trusting that the Lord reciprocates—even a single moment of sincere turning toward Him invites His merciful “glance” in the form of guidance and inner assurance.