Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 20
Mārkaṇḍeya’s Request to See Māyā and the Vision of the Cosmic Deluge
स कदाचिद् भ्रमंस्तस्मिन् पृथिव्या: ककुदि द्विज: । न्याग्रोधपोतं ददृशे फलपल्लवशोभितम् ॥ २० ॥
sa kadācid bhramaṁs tasmin pṛthivyāḥ kakudi dvijaḥ nyāgrodha-potaṁ dadṛśe phala-pallava-śobhitam
ஒருமுறை நீரில் அலைந்து சென்ற த்விஜ மார்கண்டேயர், பூமியின் மேற்பரப்பில் ஒரு சிறு தீவை கண்டார்; அங்கே மலரும் கனியும் பல்லவங்களும் பொலிந்த இளம் ஆலமரம் நின்றது।
FAQs
This verse describes Mārkaṇḍeya’s mystical vision where, while wandering in an extraordinary realm, he beholds a beautiful young banyan tree—an important signpost in the unfolding revelation of the Lord’s inconceivable potency.
Śukadeva narrates the scene to guide Parīkṣit through Mārkaṇḍeya’s vision step-by-step, showing how the Lord arranges meaningful signs in extraordinary experiences to lead the devotee toward deeper realization.
When life feels unreal, disorienting, or beyond control, this verse reminds a seeker to look for the Lord’s guiding signs and remain steady—beauty and meaning can appear even in bewildering circumstances.