Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 34
Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Tested by Indra and Blessed by Nara-Nārāyaṇa
तौ शुक्लकृष्णौ नवकञ्जलोचनौ चतुर्भुजौ रौरववल्कलाम्बरौ । पवित्रपाणी उपवीतकं त्रिवृत् कमण्डलुं दण्डमृजुं च वैणवम् ॥ ३३ ॥ पद्माक्षमालामुत जन्तुमार्जनं वेदं च साक्षात्तप एव रूपिणौ । तपत्तडिद्वर्णपिशङ्गरोचिषा प्रांशू दधानौ विबुधर्षभार्चितौ ॥ ३४ ॥
tau śukla-kṛṣṇau nava-kañja-locanau catur-bhujau raurava-valkalāmbarau pavitra-pāṇī upavītakaṁ tri-vṛt kamaṇḍaluṁ daṇḍam ṛjuṁ ca vaiṇavam
一方は白く、他方は黒みを帯び、両者は四臂であった。眼は咲き初めの蓮の花弁のごとく、ラウラヴァの鹿皮と樹皮の衣をまとい、三重の聖紐を掛けていた。浄めの御手にはカマンダル（水壺）、まっすぐな杖、ヴァイシュナヴァの法具、蓮子の数珠、清めの具、そしてダルバ草の束として象徴されたヴェーダを携え、背は高く、稲妻のような黄金の光を放ち、苦行そのものの化身として、最勝の天の聖仙たちに礼拝されていた。
FAQs
This verse describes two divine figures—one fair and one dark—four-armed, lotus-eyed, and bearing sacred renunciant emblems (sacred thread, waterpot, staff), indicating a transcendental, authoritative presence.
The verse blends ascetic symbols (bark/deerskin, kamaṇḍalu, daṇḍa) with divine attributes (four arms, lotus eyes) to show that true spiritual authority can appear with the humility of renunciation yet possess unmistakable divinity.
It encourages reverence for purity and discipline (simplicity, sacred conduct) while remembering that the Divine can guide and protect through authentic spiritual principles and teachers.