Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 14

Mārkaṇḍeya’s Request to See Māyā and the Vision of the Cosmic Deluge

Devanagari script

तस्यैवमुद्वीक्षत ऊर्मिभीषण: प्रभञ्जनाघूर्णितवार्महार्णव: । आपूर्यमाणो वरषद्भ‍िरम्बुदै: क्ष्मामप्यधाद् द्वीपवर्षाद्रिभि: समम् ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

tasyaivam udvīkṣata ūrmi-bhīṣaṇaḥ prabhañjanāghūrṇita-vār mahārṇavaḥ āpūryamāṇo varaṣadbhir ambudaiḥ kṣmām apyadhād dvīpa-varṣādribhiḥ samam

Translation

مارکنڈےیہ دیکھتے ہی دیکھتے بادلوں کی لگاتار بارش سے سمندر بڑھتا ہی گیا۔ طوفانی ہواؤں سے کوڑے گئے اس عظیم سمندر نے ہولناک موجیں اٹھا کر جزائر، پہاڑوں اور براعظموں سمیت پوری زمین کو ڈھانپ لیا۔

Synonyms

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• udvīkṣataḥ: while he was looking up/observing
• udvīkṣataḥ: Genitive absolute (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-vi-īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present participle-like form as genitive singular of present active participle (शतृ) used in genitive absolute sense; Masculine, Genitive (6th), Singular

• ūrmi-bhīṣaṇaḥ: terrifying with waves
• ūrmi-bhīṣaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūrmi + bhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; qualifying mahārṇavaḥ; तत्पुरुषः ('terrifying with waves')

• prabhañjana-āghūrṇita-vār: with waters churned by a gale
• prabhañjana-āghūrṇita-vār: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prabhañjana + āghūrṇita + vāri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (as compound member), used adjectivally with mahārṇavaḥ; तत्पुरुषः ('whose waters are churned by storm-wind')

• mahā-arṇavaḥ: the great ocean
• mahā-arṇavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + arṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; कर्मधारयः (mahān arṇavaḥ)

• āpūryamāṇaḥ: being filled
• āpūryamāṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-pṝ (धातु)
• Form: Present passive participle (शानच्), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; qualifying mahārṇavaḥ

• varṣadbhīḥ: raining
• varṣadbhīḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: varṣ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; qualifying ambudaiḥ

• ambudaiḥ: by clouds
• ambudaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambuda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• kṣmām: the earth
• kṣmām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣmā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• api: also, even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• adhāt: placed upon/covered
• adhāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhā (धातु)
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular; with prefix adhi-

• dvīpa-varṣa-adribhiḥ: with islands, regions, and mountains
• dvīpa-varṣa-adribhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvīpa + varṣa + adri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural; द्वन्द्वः (dvīpāś ca varṣāṇi ca adrayaś ca)

• samam: equally, altogether
• samam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sama (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pralaya (cosmic dissolution)?

This verse describes a pralaya-like inundation where wind-tossed oceans and relentless rains swell until the earth—along with islands and mountains—is completely submerged.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe this scene to King Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva narrates Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi’s overwhelming vision of cosmic devastation to show the Lord’s inconceivable potency and the insignificance of material stability compared to devotion.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

It reminds one not to build identity solely on changing worldly conditions; cultivate steady bhakti and remembrance of the Lord, which remains meaningful even amid upheaval.