Shloka 13
Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Meets Lord Śiva: Devotee as Living Tīrtha and the Lord’s Māyā
आत्मन्यपि शिवं प्राप्तं तडित्पिङ्गजटाधरम् । त्र्यक्षं दशभुजं प्रांशुमुद्यन्तमिव भास्करम् ॥ ११ ॥ व्याघ्रचर्माम्बरं शूलधनुरिष्वसिचर्मभि: । अक्षमालाडमरुककपालं परशुं सह ॥ १२ ॥ बिभ्राणं सहसा भातं विचक्ष्य हृदि विस्मित: । किमिदं कुत एवेति समाधेर्विरतो मुनि: ॥ १३ ॥
ātmany api śivaṁ prāptaṁ taḍit-piṅga-jaṭā-dharam try-akṣaṁ daśa-bhujaṁ prāṁśum udyantam iva bhāskaram
హృదయంలో అకస్మాత్తుగా ప్రకాశిస్తున్న శివుని చూసి ముని అంతరంగంలో ఆశ్చర్యపడ్డాడు. సమాధి నుంచి విరమించి—“ఇది ఏమిటి? ఇది ఎక్కడి నుంచి వచ్చింది?” అని తలంచాడు.
FAQs
This verse describes a sage beholding Lord Śiva within the heart during deep meditation—Śiva appears with distinct iconographic features and weapons, and the sudden vision causes the sage to withdraw from samādhi in astonishment.
Because the manifestation was sudden and extraordinarily radiant; the sage became inwardly amazed and questioned what it was and where it had come from, which interrupted his meditative absorption.
Cultivate steady inner practice (japa/meditation) with humility—genuine spiritual experiences should increase reverence and inquiry rather than pride, and one should remain grounded and discerning.