Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 4

Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Meets Lord Śiva: Devotee as Living Tīrtha and the Lord’s Māyā

Devanagari script

अथोमा तमृषिं वीक्ष्य गिरिशं समभाषत । पश्येमं भगवन् विप्रं निभृतात्मेन्द्रियाशयम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

athomā tam ṛṣiṁ vīkṣya giriśaṁ samabhāṣata paśyemaṁ bhagavan vipraṁ nibhṛtātmendriyāśayam

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ഉമാ ആ ഋഷിയെ കണ്ടിട്ട് ഗിരീശനോട് പറഞ്ഞു—ഭഗവൻ, ഈ പണ്ഡിത ബ്രാഹ്മണനെ നോക്കുക; ശരീരം, മനസ്, ഇന്ദ്രിയങ്ങൾ സമാധിയിൽ നിശ്ചലമാണ്.

Synonyms

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha-bodhaka (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (particle/adverb), sequence marker

• umā: Umā (Pārvatī)
• umā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: umā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (Nom. 1st), Ekavacana

• tam: that (him)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc. 2nd), Ekavacana

• ṛṣim: sage
• ṛṣim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc. 2nd), Ekavacana; apposition to tam

• vīkṣya: having seen
• vīkṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (त्वान्त/ल्यप्), ktvā/lyap sense: having seen

• giriśam: Giriśa (Lord of the mountain, Śiva)
• giriśam: Karma (कर्म) (object of samabhāṣata)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giriśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc. 2nd), Ekavacana

• samabhāṣata: spoke (to)
• samabhāṣata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam√bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/Past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Ātmanepada

• paśya: behold, see
• paśya: Sambodhana-prayoga (addressing/attention)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paśya (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; interjection/attention-getter (imperative-like particle)

• imam: this (man)
• imam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc. 2nd), Ekavacana

• bhagavan: O Lord
• bhagavan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana

• vipram: brāhmaṇa, learned man
• vipram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc. 2nd), Ekavacana; apposition to imam

• nibhṛta-ātma-indriya-āśayam: whose self, senses, and mind are restrained
• nibhṛta-ātma-indriya-āśayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of vipram/ imam
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nibhṛta (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + indriya (प्रातिपदिक) + āśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc. 2nd), Ekavacana; multi-member tatpuruṣa: (nibhṛta-ātmā) + (indriya-āśaya) ‘whose self, senses, and mind/intention are restrained’

Characters & Entities

• Umā (Pārvatī)
• Girīśa (Lord Śiva)
• Ṛṣi (the sage)
• Vipra (brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

What are the qualities of a saintly person described in Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse highlights calm self-mastery—an inner composure where the mind and senses are restrained—presenting such control as a visible sign of saintliness.

Why did Umā (Pārvatī) speak to Lord Śiva about the brāhmaṇa?

On seeing the sage, Umā draws Śiva’s attention to his evident self-control, setting the stage for appreciating and understanding the greatness of such a spiritually advanced person.

How can I apply “control of mind and senses” in modern life according to Bhagavatam?

Practice deliberate restraint—reduce impulsive sense-gratification, cultivate a steady inner life through devotion and discipline, and value calmness and integrity as marks of real spiritual progress.