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Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 9

Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Tested by Indra and Blessed by Nara-Nārāyaṇa

प्राप्तद्विजातिसंस्कारो मार्कण्डेय: पितु: क्रमात् । छन्दांस्यधीत्य धर्मेण तप:स्वाध्यायसंयुत: ॥ ७ ॥ बृहद्‌व्रतधर: शान्तो जटिलो वल्कलाम्बर: । बिभ्रत् कमण्डलुं दण्डमुपवीतं समेखलम् ॥ ८ ॥ कृष्णाजिनं साक्षसूत्रं कुशांश्च नियमर्द्धये । अग्‍न्यर्कगुरुविप्रात्मस्वर्चयन् सन्ध्ययोर्हरिम् ॥ ९ ॥ सायं प्रात: स गुरवे भैक्ष्यमाहृत्य वाग्यत: । बुभुजे गुर्वनुज्ञात: सकृन्नो चेदुपोषित: ॥ १० ॥ एवं तप:स्वाध्यायपरो वर्षाणामयुतायुतम् । आराधयन् हृषीकेशं जिग्ये मृत्युं सुदुर्जयम् ॥ ११ ॥

prāpta-dvijāti-saṁskāro mārkaṇḍeyaḥ pituḥ kramāt chandāṁsy adhītya dharmeṇa tapaḥ-svādhyāya-saṁyutaḥ

父が定めの儀礼によって二度生まれの浄化と婆羅門の入門を施すと、マールカンデーヤはヴェーダの讃歌を学び、ダルマの規律を厳守した。苦行とスヴァーディヤーヤに励み、生涯ブラフマチャーリーとして清浄を保った。結髪をなし樹皮衣をまとい、カマンダル、杖、聖紐、腰帯、黒鹿皮、数珠、クシャ草を携え、サンディヤーの時刻ごとに、祭火・太陽・師・バラモン・心中のパラマートマンという五つの姿においてシュリー・ハリを礼拝した。

kṛṣṇa-ajinamblack deerskin
kṛṣṇa-ajinam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootkṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ajina (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘कृष्णं अजिनम्’ (black deerskin)
sākṣa-sūtrama carrying-cord/strap
sākṣa-sūtram:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsākṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + sūtra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (instrument/association sense): ‘साक्षसूत्रम्’ (a cord/strap for the water-pot etc.; traditional ascetic accessory)
kuśānkuśa grass
kuśān:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootkuśa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
caand
ca:
Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय (conjunction)
niyama-ṛddhayefor the strengthening of observances
niyama-ṛddhaye:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootniyama (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘नियमस्य ऋद्धये’ (for the increase of discipline)
agni-arka-guru-vipra-ātma-sūin fire, sun, teacher, brāhmaṇa, self, and the virtuous
agni-arka-guru-vipra-ātma-sū:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootagni (प्रातिपदिक) + arka (प्रातिपदिक) + guru (प्रातिपदिक) + vipra (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + su (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थ: ‘अग्नौ अर्के गुरौ विप्रे आत्मनि च’ (in fire, sun, teacher, brāhmaṇa, self, and the good)
arcayanworshipping
arcayan:
Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
TypeVerb
Root√arc (धातु) → arcayat (तिङन्त)
Formशतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle) ‘अर्चयन्’, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘worshipping’
sandhyayoḥat the two twilights (morning & evening)
sandhyayoḥ:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootsandhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (Gen./Loc.), द्विवचन; here locative sense: ‘at the two twilights’
harimHari (Viṣṇu)
harim:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roothari (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
M
Mārkaṇḍeya
H
Hari

FAQs

This verse shows Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi worshiping Hari at both sandhyās, indicating that regular, time-bound devotion and remembrance of God are integral to Vedic dharma.

The Bhāgavatam presents them as sacred representatives and supports of dharma; honoring them as part of Hari’s worship integrates devotion with reverence for divine order, spiritual authority, and the Lord’s presence as Paramātmā.

Keep a steady daily practice—morning and evening prayer/meditation—while showing respect to teachers, sacred knowledge, and the divine presence in all people.