rule



 

 

Canto 12

 Guru Puja

 


Chapter 9: Mārkandeya is Shown the Lord's Bewildering Potency

(1) S'rī Sūta said: "The Supreme Lord Nārāyana, Nara's Friend, who thus by Mārkandeya, the intelligent sage, was properly respected, thereupon satisfied spoke to the eminent follower of Bhrigu. (2) The Supreme Lord said: 'Oh dear man perfectly absorbed in the soul, you are the best of all brahmin seers for by your austerities, recitations and concentration you do not deviate in your devotional service unto Me. (3) We are perfectly satisfied about your steady adherence to the great vow. We wish you all the best. Please choose a benediction to your liking. I am the Giver of All Benedictions you desire.'

(4) The honorable rishi said: 'You, oh Lord of Lords, oh Infallible One, are victorious as the Remover of the Distress of the Surrendered Soul. We are perfectly satisfied with as much as the benediction of having seen Your good Self. (5) Brahmā and others with a mind matured in yoga all acquired the sight of Your omnipotent lotus feet and now You in person are visible before my eyes. (6) Nonetheless, oh Lotus-eyed Crest Jewel of Fame, I would like to witness the illusory potency because of which the entire world, along with its rulers, knows the Absolute Truth as a material differentiation [compare B.G. 11: 3-4].'

(7) Sūta said: 'Oh sage [S'aunaka], the Supreme Lord by the rishi to His satisfaction being glorified and worshiped with these words, said with a smile to him 'So be it'. Thereupon the Lord departed for Badarikās'rama. (8-9) The rishi remained behind in his hermitage thinking only of that purpose [of witnessing the energy of the Lord] and venerated and meditated under all circumstances the Lord to the best of his ability [as being present] in the fire, the sun, the moon, the water, the earth, the wind, the lightning as also in his heart. Thus immersed in the stream of pure love [prema], he sometimes forgot to prove his respects. (10) Oh best of Bhrigu, when the sage one day was performing his evening worship on the bank of the Pushpabhadrā, a great wind arose, oh brahmin. (11) It created a terrible sound followed by the appearance of threatening clouds as solid as wagon wheels that resounded loudly with lightning and torrential showers of rain everywhere. (12) Then from all sides the four oceans appeared that engulfed the surface of the earth with wind-tossed waves in which there were terrible sea monsters and fearful whirlpools accompanied by ominous sounds. (13) Perplexed the sage became afraid seeing how the earth flooded and all the four types of inhabitants of the universe [as born from moist, seed, embryos and eggs] including himself, inside and outside were plagued by the fierce winds, the bolts of lightning and the great waves of water rising higher than the sky. (14) Before his eyes the water of the great ocean was swirled around by hurricanes in frightening waves, as it swelled with the rain from the clouds and covered the entire earth, including its continents, islands and mountains. (15) With the three worlds, the earth, outer space, the celestial bodies and heavenly places flooded in all directions, the great sage, as the only soul remaining, wandered about like a dumb and blind person, with his matted locks scattered. (16) Suffering hunger and thirst, attacked by monstrous crocodiles and whale-eaters, and plagued by the winds he, tormented by the waves, moved about in the infinite darkness he had fallen into, overcome by fatigue and not knowing which direction of the sky or the earth he went. (17-18) Sometimes drowning in a great whirlpool and then beaten by the waves, he was threatened by monsters that tried to eat him the one moment and the other moment were attacking each other. In distress he sometimes felt sick and suffered pains with occasional depressions, bewilderment, misery, unhappiness and happiness, while fearing for his life at other times. (19) Countless and countless, hundreds and thousands of years passed with him in bewilderment wandering around in that māyā, that deluding material energy of Vishnu.

(20) One day, as he was roaming about there, the twice-born soul spotted upon a raised mound of earth a beautiful young banyan tree with fruits and blossoms. (21) Upon a branch of it toward the northeast he saw an infant boy lying within the fold of a leaf swallowing the darkness with His effulgence [see also 3.33: 4]. (22-25) Amazed the king among the scholars drank with his eyes from the sight of His complexion that was as blue as a great emerald, His beautiful lotus face, His conch shell-striped throat, His broad chest, fine nose and beautiful eyebrows. His splendid hairs trembled to His breath, His beautiful shell-shaped ears resembled pomegranate flowers, His coral lips by their effulgence slightly reddened the nectarean charming smile on his face and the corners of His eyes were reddish like the whorl of a lotus. His breathing moved the lines of His abdomen contorted by His deep leaf like navel and ...  he saw how the infant with the graceful fingers of His two hands grabbed one of His lotus feet and placed it in His mouth [*]. (26) When he saw the baby, his weariness was dispelled instantly and out of pleasure the lotus of his heart and his lotus eyes spread wide open. With his hair standing on end he wondered who that wonderful appearance could be, and went straight for the child to find an answer. (27) That very moment the man of Bhrigu, with a breath of the infant, was drawn into His body like a mosquito, whereupon he utterly surprised stood perplexed to see from that position the entire universe the way it was before. (28-29) He overlooked the entire expanse of all the stars, the mountains and oceans, the directions of the great islands and continents, the enlightened and unenlightened souls, the forests, countries, rivers, cities and mines, the peasant villages, the cow pastures and the various engagements of the varnās'rama society. Of this universe being manifested as real, he saw the basic elements of nature and all their gross manifestations, as also the Time itself in the form of the different yugas and kalpas, and whatever other object of use in material life. (30) In front of the universe seeing the Himalayas, the Pushpabhadrā river and his hermitage where he had met the rishis [Nara and Nārāyana], he was by the breath of the infant thrown outside again and fell back into the ocean of dissolution. (31-32) And there, on the raised stretch of land in the water where the banyan grew, was the child again lying in the fold of its leaf, glancing at him with a nectarean smile of love from the corner of His eyes. Placing the vision of the infant within his heart he greatly excited ran to embrace the Lord of the Beyond. (33) That very instant He, the Supreme Lord, the master of yoga in person who is hidden in the heart of all living beings, suddenly became invisible to the rishi, the same way things, that are made by an incompetent person, may suddenly fail to serve. (34) Oh brahmin, following Him, immediately also the banyan disappeared and the waters of the annihilation of the world and he found himself in front of his ās'rama as before."

 

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 Third revised edition, loaded November 11, 2022.


 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

S'rī Sūta said: "The Supreme Lord Nārāyana, Nara's Friend, who thus by Mārkandeya, the intelligent sage, was properly respected, thereupon satisfied spoke to the eminent follower of Bhrigu.
S'rī Sūta said: "The Supreme Lord Nārāyana, Nara's Friend, this way by Mārkandeya, the intelligent sage, properly respected, spoke satisfied to the eminent descendant of Bhrigu. (Vedabase)

 

Text 2

The Supreme Lord said: 'Oh dear man perfectly absorbed in the soul, you are the best of all brahmin seers for by your austerities, recitations and concentration you do not deviate in your devotional service unto Me.

The Supreme Lord said: 'O My pleasure, you, perfect in your fixation upon the soul, are the best of all brahmin seers; not deviating in your devotional service, austerities, recitations and concentration you are directed towards Me.  (Vedabase)

   

Text 3

We are perfectly satisfied about your steady adherence to the great vow. We wish you all the best. Please choose a benediction to your liking. I am the Giver of All Benedictions you desire.'

We have become perfectly satisfied with you in your keeping to a vow of lifelong celibacy; please choose a benediction to your desire, for I am the Giver of All Benedictions wishing you the best'. (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

The honorable rishi said: 'You, oh Lord of Lords, oh Infallible One, are victorious as the Remover of the Distress of the Surrendered Soul. We are perfectly satisfied with as much as the benediction of having seen Your good Self. 

The honorable rishi said: 'You o Lord of Lords, o Infallible One, are victorious as the Remover of the Distress of the One Surrendered and with as much as the benediction of us having seen Your good Self we are satisfied. (Vedabase)

 

 Text 5

Brahmā and others with a mind matured in yoga all acquired the sight of Your omnipotent lotus feet and now You in person are visible before my eyes.

Brahmā and others with a mind matured in yoga all acquired the sight of Your omnipotent lotus feet and now You in person are visible before my eyes. (Vedabase)

   

Text 6

Nonetheless, oh Lotus-eyed Crest Jewel of Fame, I would like to witness the illusory potency because of which the entire world, along with its rulers, knows the Absolute Truth as a material differentiation [compare B.G. 11: 3-4].'

Nonetheless o Lotus-eyed Crest Jewel of Fame, I would like to witness the illusory potency because of which the entire world along with its rulers is of respect for the material differentiation of the absolute.' [compare B.G. 11: 3-4].  (Vedabase)

 

Text 7

Sūta said: 'Oh sage [S'aunaka], the Supreme Lord by the rishi to His satisfaction being glorified and worshiped with these words, said with a smile to him 'So be it'. Thereupon the Lord departed for Badarikās'rama.

Sūta said: 'By the rishi glorified with these words He, the Supreme Lord, to His satisfaction being worshiped said smiling, 'So be it'. Thereupon the Lord departed for Badarikās'rama. (Vedabase)

 

Text 8-9

The rishi remained behind in his hermitage thinking only of that purpose [of witnessing the energy of the Lord] and venerated and meditated under all circumstances the Lord to the best of his ability [as being present] in the fire, the sun, the moon, the water, the earth, the wind, the lightning as also in his heart. Thus immersed in the stream of pure love [prema], he sometimes forgot to prove his respects.

The rishi keeping only that [desire to witness the energy of the Lord] in mind thus remained at his hermitage to meditate under all circumstances upon the Lord with all that he had: the fire, the sun, the moon, the water, the earth, the wind, the lightning as well as his own heart. Thus being of worship he sometimes forgot to prove his respect at the moments he drowned in the flood of pure love of Godhead [prema]. (Vedabase)


Text 10

Oh best of Bhrigu, when the sage one day was performing his evening worship on the bank of the Pushpabhadrā, a great wind arose, oh brahmin.

One day, o best of Bhrigu, when the sage was performing his evening worship on the bank of the Pushpabhadrā o brahmin, a great wind arose.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 11

It created a terrible sound followed by the appearance of threatening clouds as solid as wagon wheels that resounded loudly with lightning and torrential showers of rain everywhere.

It created a terrible sound followed by the appearance of threatening clouds as solid as wagon wheels that resounding loudly with lightning showered torrents of rain everywhere. (Vedabase)

 

Text 12

Then from all sides the four oceans appeared that engulfed the surface of the earth with wind-tossed waves in which there were terrible sea monsters and fearful whirlpools accompanied by ominous sounds.

Then from all sides the four oceans appeared swallowing up the surface of the earth with wind-tossed waves in which, along with ominous sounds, there were terrible sea monsters and fearful whirlpools. (Vedabase)

 

Text 13

Perplexed the sage became afraid seeing how the earth flooded and all the four types of inhabitants of the universe [as born from moist, seed, embryos and eggs] including himself, inside and outside were plagued by the fierce winds, the bolts of lightning and the great waves of water rising higher than the sky.

Perplexed the sage got afraid seeing how the earth flooded and all the four types of inhabitants of the universe [as born from moist, seed, embryos and eggs] including himself innerly and materially were plagued by the water rising higher than the sky, the fierce winds, the bolts of lightning, and the great waves towering higher than heaven.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

Before his eyes the water of the great ocean was swirled around by hurricanes in frightening waves, as it swelled with the rain from the clouds and covered the entire earth, including its continents, islands and mountains.

As he was looking on the waters of the great ocean were by hurricanes swirled around in frightening waves as they swelled with the rain from the clouds that covered the entirety of the earth with its continents, islands and mountains. (Vedabase)

 

Text 15

With the three worlds, the earth, outer space, the celestial bodies and heavenly places flooded in all directions, the great sage, as the only soul remaining, wandered about like a dumb and blind person, with his matted locks scattered.

With the three worlds, the earth, outer space, the celestial bodies and heavenly places flooded in all directions the great sage, as the only one remaining, wandered about like a dumb and blind person, with his matted locks scattered. (Vedabase)

 

Text 16

Suffering hunger and thirst, attacked by monstrous crocodiles and whale-eaters, and plagued by the winds he, tormented by the waves, moved about in the infinite darkness he had fallen into, overcome by fatigue and not knowing which direction of the sky or the earth he went.

In the grip of hunger and thirst, attacked by monsterous crocodiles and whale-eaters and plagued by the winds he, tormented by the waves, moved overcome by fatigue and not knowing which direction of the sky or the earth he went, through the infinite darkness he had fallen into. (Vedabase)

 

Text 17-18

Sometimes drowning in a great whirlpool and then beaten by the waves, he was threatened by monsters that tried to eat him the one moment and the other moment were attacking each other. In distress he sometimes felt sick and suffered pains with occasional depressions, bewilderment, misery, unhappiness and happiness, while fearing for his life at other times.

Sometimes drowning in a great whirlpool and then beaten by the waves he was at times threatened by monsters who wanted to eat him and at other times were attacking each other. He in distress sometimes felt sick and suffered pains with occasional depressions and bewilderment, misery, incidental happiness and fear of death at other times. (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

Countless and countless, hundreds and thousands of years passed with him in bewilderment wandering around in that māyā, that deluding material energy of Vishnu.

Countless and countless, hundreds and thousands of years passed while he with a clouded mind wandered around in that māyā, that deluding material energy of Vishnu.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

One day, as he was roaming about there, the twice-born soul spotted upon a raised mound of earth a beautiful young banyan tree with fruits and blossoms.

Once, as he roamed out there, the twice-born one saw upon a raised mound of earth a beautiful young banyan tree with fruits and blossoms. (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

Upon a branch of  it toward the northeast he saw an infant boy lying within the fold of a leaf swallowing the darkness with His effulgence [see also 3.33: 4].

Upon a branch of that tree toward the northeast he in addition saw an infant boy lying within the fold of a leaf swallowing the darkness with His effulgence [see also 3.33: 4]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 22-25

Amazed the king among the scholars drank with his eyes from the sight of His complexion that was as blue as a great emerald, His beautiful lotus face, His conch shell-striped throat, His broad chest, fine nose and beautiful eyebrows. His splendid hairs trembled to His breath, His beautiful shell-shaped ears resembled pomegranate flowers, His coral lips by their effulgence slightly reddened the nectarean charming smile on his face and the corners of His eyes were reddish like the whorl of a lotus. His breathing moved the lines of His abdomen contorted by His deep leaf like navel and ...  he saw how the infant with the graceful fingers of His two hands grabbed one of His lotus feet and placed it in His mouth [*].

Amazed the king among the scholars drank with his eyes from the sight of His complexion that was as dark blue as a great emerald, His beautiful lotus face, His conchshell striped throat, His broad chest, fine nose and beautiful eyebrows. He relished His splendid hair which trembled to His breath, His beautiful shell-shaped ears resembling pomegranate flowers, His coral lips that by their effulgence slightly reddened His nectarean smile, His countenance with a charming smile and with the corners of His eyes like the reddish whorl of a lotus, the by His breath moved lines of His abdomen contorted by His deep leaf like navel, and also... how the infant with the graceful fingers of His two hands grabbed one of His lotus feet and placed it in His mouth [*]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 26

When he saw the baby, his weariness was dispelled instantly and out of pleasure the lotus of his heart and his lotus eyes spread wide open. With his hair standing on end he wondered who that wonderful appearance could be, and went straight for the child to find an answer.

The moment he saw the baby his weariness was dispelled and out of pleasure the lotus of his heart and his lotus eyes spread wide open. Confused about the identity of that wonderful appearance he, with his hair standing on end, approached the child from the front to find an answer. (Vedabase)

 

Text 27

That very moment the man of Bhrigu, with a breath of the infant, was drawn into His body like a mosquito, whereupon he utterly surprised stood perplexed to see from that position the entire universe the way it was before.

That very moment the man of Bhrigu with a breath of the infant was drawn into His body like a mosquito whereupon he utterly surprised stood perplexed to see from that position the entire universe the way it was before. (Vedabase)

 

Text 28-29

He overlooked the entire expanse of all the stars, the mountains and oceans, the directions of the great islands and continents, the enlightened and unenlightened souls, the forests, countries, rivers, cities and mines, the peasant villages, the cow pastures and the various engagements of the varnās'rama society. Of this universe being manifested as real, he saw the basic elements of nature and all their gross manifestations, as also the Time itself in the form of the different yugas and kalpas, and whatever other object of use in material life.

He saw the entire expanse of all the stars, the mountains and oceans, and the directions of the great islands and continents, the ones enlightened and unenlightened, the forests, countries, rivers, cities and mines, the peasant villages, the cow pastures and the various engagements of the varnās'rama society. He saw the basic elements of nature and all their gross manifestations, as also the Time itself of the different yugas and kalpas and whatever other object of material use in the universe that was manifested as if it was real. (Vedabase)

 

Text 30

In front of the universe seeing the Himalayas, the Pushpabhadrā river and his hermitage where he had met the rishis [Nara and Nārāyana], he was by the breath of the infant thrown outside again and fell back into the ocean of dissolution.

Seeing the Himālayas, the Pushpabhadrā River and his hermitage where he had seen the rishis [Nara and Nārāyana], he, thus observing the universe, was by the breath of the infant again thrown outside to fall back into the ocean of dissolution. (Vedabase)

 

Text 31-32

And there, on the raised stretch of land in the water where the banyan grew, was the child again lying in the fold of its leaf, glancing at him with a nectarean smile of love from the corner of His eyes. Placing the vision of the infant within his heart he greatly excited ran to embrace the Lord of the Beyond.

On the raised stretch of land in the water where the banyan grew, there, lying in the fold of its leaf, was the child again, glancing at him with a nectarean smile of love from the corner of His eyes. Placing the infant by that vison within his heart he ran greatly excited to embrace the Lord of the Beyond. (Vedabase)

 

Text 33

That very instant He, the Supreme Lord, the master of yoga in person who is hidden in the heart of all living beings, suddenly became invisible to the rishi, the same way things, that are made by an incompetent person, may suddenly fail to serve.

That moment He, the Supreme Lord, the Original One of Yoga who is hidden in the heart of all living beings in person, suddenly became invisible for the rishi, the same way as that what by an incompetent person is made suddenly may fail to serve. (Vedabase)

 

Text 34

Oh brahmin, following Him, immediately also the banyan disappeared and the waters of the annihilation of the world and he found himself in front of his ās'rama as before."

O brahmin, after Him next the banyan disappeared as well as the waters of the annihilation of the world, and the next moment he found himself as before in front of his own ās'rama." (Vedabase)

  

*: The infant putting its foot into its mouth is by S'rīla Vis'vanātha Cakravartī Thhākura interpreted as the Lord saying, 'see how sweet my feet are to the taste of the devotee'.

 

 

 

 

Creative
                          Commons License
The text and audio are offered under the conditions of the
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License
.

The vintage image shows infant Krishna
holding his foot.
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time.


 

 

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