Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 17
Mārkaṇḍeya’s Request to See Māyā and the Vision of the Cosmic Deluge
क्वचिन्मग्नो महावर्ते तरलैस्ताडित: क्वचित् । यादोभिर्भक्ष्यते क्वापि स्वयमन्योन्यघातिभि: ॥ १७ ॥ क्वचिच्छोकं क्वचिन्मोहं क्वचिद्दु:खं सुखं भयम् । क्वचिन्मृत्युमवाप्नोति व्याध्यादिभिरुतार्दित: ॥ १८ ॥
kracin magno mahāvarte taralais tāḍitaḥ kvacit yādobhir bhakṣyate kvāpi svayam anyonya-ghātibhiḥ
Kadang-kadang dia ditelan pusaran besar, kadang-kadang dipukul ombak yang dahsyat; di tempat lain makhluk air yang saling menerkam mengancam untuk menelannya. Kadang-kadang dia diliputi duka, kadang-kadang keliru, kadang-kadang derita, bahagia atau takut; dan kadang-kadang oleh penyakit serta kesakitan yang amat, dia merasa seolah-olah sedang mati.
FAQs
This verse depicts the conditioned soul as repeatedly battered, submerged, and even ‘devoured’—showing how worldly existence overwhelms one through forces beyond one’s control and through mutual conflict.
To awaken detachment and urgency in Parīkṣit—highlighting that worldly security is fragile, especially in Kali-yuga, and that one should seek shelter in the Lord rather than in temporary arrangements.
Recognize recurring stress, competition, and conflict as symptoms of samsāra; reduce entanglement, avoid toxic environments, and prioritize steady spiritual practice (śravaṇa, kīrtana, remembrance) for inner refuge.