Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 1
Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Tested by Indra and Blessed by Nara-Nārāyaṇa
श्रीशौनक उवाच सूत जीव चिरं साधो वद नो वदतां वर । तमस्यपारे भ्रमतां नृणां त्वं पारदर्शन: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-śaunaka uvāca sūta jīva ciraṁ sādho vada no vadatāṁ vara tamasy apāre bhramatāṁ nṝṇāṁ tvaṁ pāra-darśanaḥ
シュリー・シャウナカは言った。「おおスータよ、聖なる方よ、長く生きよ。語り手の中の最勝者よ、どうか我らに続けて語ってください。無明の闇の彼方で迷う人々に、渡る道を示せるのは、まさにあなたのみです。」
According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, the sages saw that Sūta Gosvāmī was about to end his narration of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and thus they urged him to first tell the story of Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi.
FAQs
This verse portrays conditioned souls as wandering in darkness and honors the realized speaker of Bhāgavatam as the guide who shows the way to the ‘other shore’—liberation through hearing transcendental wisdom.
In Naimiṣāraṇya, the sages rely on Sūta as the qualified narrator of Bhāgavatam; Śaunaka respectfully urges him to continue speaking for the benefit of those lost in ignorance.
Seek authentic spiritual guidance and regularly hear/reflect on Bhāgavatam teachings to gain clarity, purpose, and freedom from confusion and destructive habits.