Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 26
Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi Meets Lord Śiva: Devotee as Living Tīrtha and the Lord’s Māyā
सूत उवाच इति चन्द्रललामस्य धर्मगुह्योपबृंहितम् । वचोऽमृतायनमृषिर्नातृप्यत् कर्णयो: पिबन् ॥ २६ ॥
sūta uvāca iti candra-lalāmasya dharma-gahyopabṛṁhitam vaco ’mṛtāyanam ṛṣir nātṛpyat karṇayoḥ piban
సూతుడు పలికెను—చంద్రలలాముడైన శ్రీశివుని ధర్మగుహ్యసారంతో నిండిన అమృతవాక్యాలను చెవులతో త్రాగుచు మార్కండేయ ఋషి తృప్తి పొందలేదు।
Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi was not eager to hear himself praised by Lord Śiva, but he appreciated Lord Śiva’s deep realization of religious principles and therefore desired to hear more.
FAQs
This verse says the sage could not be satiated, because the Bhāgavatam’s words are like a reservoir of nectar—true spiritual hearing (śravaṇam) naturally increases one’s taste rather than exhausting it.
Candralalāma means “moon-crest” or “moonlike ornament,” praising Śukadeva as the foremost among sages whose speech cools and nourishes the heart like moonlight and is rich with confidential dharma.
Make consistent time for hearing Bhāgavatam—live or recorded—treating it as daily nourishment; the verse highlights that sincere listening deepens devotion and inner satisfaction beyond ordinary entertainment.