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Shloka 23

Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Tested by Indra and Blessed by Nara-Nārāyaṇa

हुत्वाग्निं समुपासीनं दद‍ृशु: शक्रकिङ्करा: । मीलिताक्षं दुराधर्षं मूर्तिमन्तमिवानलम् ॥ २३ ॥

hutvāgniṁ samupāsīnaṁ dadṛśuḥ śakra-kiṅkarāḥ mīlitākṣaṁ durādharṣaṁ mūrtimantam ivānalam

インドラの従者たちは、定めの供物を祭火に捧げ終え、瞑想に座す聖仙を見た。三昧にて眼を閉じたその姿は、まさに火が形を取ったかのように、近づき難く不敗であった。

hutvāhaving offered
hutvā:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Root√hu (धातु)
FormAbsolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), avyaya; ‘having offered (into fire)’
agnimfire
agnim:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootagni (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of hutvā
samupāsīnamseated, engaged in worship/meditation
samupāsīnam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootsam-upa-āsīna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ās ‘to sit’)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; past participle/PPP in sense ‘seated in meditation/attending’; qualifies implied ‘him’ (the sage) as object of dadṛśuḥ
dadṛśuḥthey saw
dadṛśuḥ:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√dṛś (धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), 3rd person, Plural; parasmaipada
śakra-kiṅkarāḥIndra’s attendants
śakra-kiṅkarāḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootśakra + kiṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; ‘servants of Śakra (Indra)’
mīlita-akṣamwith eyes closed
mīlita-akṣam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootmīlita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √mīl ‘to close’) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; ‘with closed eyes’
durādharṣamunassailable
durādharṣam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootdur + ādharṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; ‘hard to assail’
mūrtimantamembodied
mūrtimantam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootmūrtimat (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; ‘embodied, having form’
ivaas if, like
iva:
Sambandha/Upamā (उपमा)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiva (अव्यय)
FormParticle of comparison (उपमावाचक-अव्यय)
analamfire
analam:
Upamāna (उपमान)
TypeNoun
Rootanala (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; object of comparison with mūrtimantam
Ś
Śakra (Indra)
Ś
Śakra-kiṅkarāḥ (Indra’s servants)

FAQs

This verse portrays a worshiper who, after offering into the sacred fire, sits absorbed with closed eyes and becomes “durādharṣa”—so spiritually potent that even Indra’s servants perceive him as formidable, like embodied fire.

Indra’s attendants often appear when intense austerity threatens to alter cosmic balances; here they witness the ascetic’s concentrated worship and recognize a power that is difficult to oppose.

Steady daily sādhana—worship, disciplined habits, and focused meditation—builds inner strength and clarity, making one less shaken by distractions, fear, and external pressures.