Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

अनुवर्णितमेतत्ते मार्कण्डेयस्य धीमत: । अनुभूतं भगवतो मायावैभवमद्भ‍ुतम् ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

anuvarṇitam etat te mārkaṇḍeyasya dhīmataḥ anubhūtaṁ bhagavato māyā-vaibhavam adbhutam

Translation

मी तुम्हाला अशा प्रकारे अत्यंत बुद्धिमान मार्कण्डेय मुनिचे चरित्र सांगितले—विशेषतः त्याने भगवंताच्या मायाशक्तीचे अद्भुत वैभव कसे प्रत्यक्ष अनुभवलं ते।

Synonyms

• अनुवर्णितम्: has been described
• अनुवर्णितम्: Kriya (क्रिया-विशेषण/भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु+वर्णय् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate adjective

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/dative), एकवचन; ‘for you/to you’

• मार्कण्डेयस्य: of Mārkaṇḍeya
• मार्कण्डेयस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्कण्डेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

• धीमतः: of the wise one
• धीमतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of मार्कण्डेयस्य)

• अनुभूतम्: experienced
• अनुभूतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु+भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies एतत्

• भगवतः: of the Lord
• भगवतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

• मायावैभवम्: the wondrous power of māyā
• मायावैभवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया + वैभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘the splendor/power of māyā’

• अद्भुतम्: marvelous
• अद्भुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of मायावैभवम्/एतत्)

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Bhagavān (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the power of māyā?

This verse concludes that the Lord’s māyā is astonishing and supremely powerful—so much so that even a great sage like Mārkaṇḍeya directly witnessed its overwhelming majesty.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrate Mārkaṇḍeya’s experience to King Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva presents Mārkaṇḍeya’s vision to show that the Lord’s māyā can bewilder even the most learned, and that true safety lies in devotion and shelter at the Lord’s lotus feet.

Practical application of understanding māyā in modern life?

Recognize that appearances can be deceptive and temporary; cultivate steady bhakti—hearing, chanting, and remembrance of Bhagavān—to stay grounded in spiritual reality.