Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 26
Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Tested by Indra and Blessed by Nara-Nārāyaṇa
क्रीडन्त्या: पुञ्जिकस्थल्या: कन्दुकै: स्तनगौरवात् । भृशमुद्विग्नमध्याया: केशविस्रंसितस्रज: ॥ २६ ॥ इतस्ततोभ्रमद्दृष्टेश्चलन्त्या अनुकन्दुकम् । वायुर्जहार तद्वास: सूक्ष्मं त्रुटितमेखलम् ॥ २७ ॥
krīḍantyāḥ puñjikasthalyāḥ kandukaiḥ stana-gauravāt bhṛśam udvigna-madhyāyāḥ keśa-visraṁsita-srajaḥ
पुञ्जिकस्थली कन्दुकैः क्रीडन्तीव दर्शयामास; स्तनगौरवात् उद्विग्नमध्याया केशेषु स्रग् विस्रंसिता। कन्दुकान् अनुधावन्त्या इतस्ततो भ्रमद्दृष्टेः सूक्ष्मं वासः मेखला त्रुटिता; तद्वायुर्जहार।
FAQs
In Canto 12, Chapter 8, Puñjikāsthalī appears within the Lord’s illusory manifestation that bewilders Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi, illustrating the astonishing potency of Yogamāyā.
It describes Puñjikāsthalī playing with a ball, her waist strained by the weight of her breasts, with her garland and hair becoming disordered—vivid sensory detail within an illusory scene.
The verse reminds a seeker that appearances can powerfully captivate the mind; steadiness in devotion and discernment helps one not be swept away by illusion and distraction.