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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

ایک بار پانی میں بھٹکتے ہوئے برہمن مارکنڈےیہ نے زمین کی پشت پر ایک چھوٹا سا جزیرہ دیکھا، جہاں پھل اور کونپلوں سے آراستہ ایک نوخیز برگد کا درخت کھڑا تھا۔

saḥhe
saḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular
kadācitonce, at some time
kadācit:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootkadācit (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)
bhramanwandering
bhraman:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Root√bhram (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
FormPresent active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agreeing with saḥ
tasminin that (place/state)
tasmin:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormPronoun, Neuter/Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular
pṛthivyāḥof the earth
pṛthivyāḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootpṛthivī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Genitive (6th), Singular
kakudion the summit/ridge
kakudi:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootkakud (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (or Masculine in some usages), Locative (7th), Singular; 'on the ridge/peak'
dvijaḥthe brāhmaṇa (twice-born)
dvijaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdvija (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; apposition to saḥ
nyāgrodhabanyan (nyagrodha)
nyāgrodha:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootnyāgrodha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; (समासपूर्वपद)
potama young shoot/sapling
potam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootpota (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; nyāgrodha-potaṁ = 'a banyan sprout/young plant' (षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष)
dadṛśesaw
dadṛśe:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√dṛś (धातु)
FormPerfect (लिट्), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person, Singular
phalawith fruits
phala:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootphala (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Instrumental (3rd) Singular; (समासपूर्वपद)
pallavawith tender leaves
pallava:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootpallava (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Instrumental (3rd) Singular; (समासपूर्वपद)
śobhitamadorned, beautiful
śobhitam:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Root√śubh (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
FormPast passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; agreeing with potam; phala-pallava-śobhitam = 'adorned with fruits and leaves'
M
Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi

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.