Shloka 4
Adhyāya 188: Mārkaṇḍeya’s Account of Yuga-Decline and the Restoration Motif
Kali-yuga to Kalki
ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्विशालायं बदर्या स नराधिप । एकपादस्थितस्तीव्रं चकार सुमहत् तप:,महाराज! उसने बदरिकाश्रममें जाकर दोनों बाँहें ऊपर उठाये एक पैरसे खड़ा हो दस हजार वर्षोतक बड़ी भारी तपस्या की। उस समय उसका सिर नीचेकी ओर झुका हुआ था और वह एकटक नेत्रोंसे निरन्तर देखता रहता था। इस प्रकार बड़ी दृढ़ताके साथ उस बालकने घोर तप किया
Ūrdhvabāhur viśālāyaṃ badaryā sa narādhipa | ekapādasthitas tīvraṃ cakāra sumahat tapaḥ ||
Sinabi ni Mārkaṇḍeya: “O hari! Nagtungo siya sa malawak na lupain ng Badarī (Badarikāśrama). Doon, itinaas niya ang dalawang bisig at tumindig sa iisang paa, at nagsagawa ng napakahigpit at napakadakilang tapas.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights tapas as disciplined endurance and self-restraint: steadfast effort, maintained over time with focus, is portrayed as a powerful means for inner purification and spiritual accomplishment.
Mārkaṇḍeya narrates that a certain person went to Badarī and performed extreme austerities—arms raised and standing on one foot—emphasizing the severity and determination of the practice.