Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 17
Mārkaṇḍeya’s Request to See Māyā and the Vision of the Cosmic Deluge
क्वचिन्मग्नो महावर्ते तरलैस्ताडित: क्वचित् । यादोभिर्भक्ष्यते क्वापि स्वयमन्योन्यघातिभि: ॥ १७ ॥ क्वचिच्छोकं क्वचिन्मोहं क्वचिद्दु:खं सुखं भयम् । क्वचिन्मृत्युमवाप्नोति व्याध्यादिभिरुतार्दित: ॥ १८ ॥
kracin magno mahāvarte taralais tāḍitaḥ kvacit yādobhir bhakṣyate kvāpi svayam anyonya-ghātibhiḥ
Kadang ia terseret ke pusaran besar, kadang dihantam gelombang dahsyat; di tempat lain makhluk air, saling menerkam, mengancam akan melahapnya. Kadang ia diliputi duka, kadang kebingungan, kadang derita, bahagia, atau takut; dan kadang oleh penyakit serta nyeri yang mengerikan ia merasa seakan ajal menjemput.
FAQs
This verse depicts the conditioned soul as repeatedly battered, submerged, and even ‘devoured’—showing how worldly existence overwhelms one through forces beyond one’s control and through mutual conflict.
To awaken detachment and urgency in Parīkṣit—highlighting that worldly security is fragile, especially in Kali-yuga, and that one should seek shelter in the Lord rather than in temporary arrangements.
Recognize recurring stress, competition, and conflict as symptoms of samsāra; reduce entanglement, avoid toxic environments, and prioritize steady spiritual practice (śravaṇa, kīrtana, remembrance) for inner refuge.