॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Srimad Bhagavatam - Skandha XII.09 Sunday, 20 August 2023 - Sage Markandeya is given a glimpse of Bhagavan's Vishnu Maya through a special Vishwaroopa Darshan.
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We have seen Bhagavan give Vishwaroopa Darshan a few times. The most famous is the one in Srimad Bhagavadgita to Arjuna who sees the whole world of all beings being sucked into Death, while the sages and gods simultaneously live in the ecstasy of Bhagavan's grace.
The second most important one is how Baby Krishna shows the universe in his mouth by opening his mouth when confronted by Mother Yashoda for eating mud.
There is one more of Nanda. There is one of...Uddhava, and so on. This Vishwaroopa of Bhagavan to Sage Markandeya is fundamentally different.
We should know by now that all material existence is Maya. Bhagavan places every living soul in a body and simultaneously places the Jiva in Maya. So a vestige of Maya covers even the most enlightened Jiva! This is true even for Narada himself, and Sage Markandeya too. Let us see how this plays out in this chapter.
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सूत उवाच
संस्तुतो भगवानित्थं मार्कण्डेयेन धीमता । नारायणो नरसख: प्रीत आह भृगूद्वहम् ॥
The Suta narrated: Bhagavan was pleased with Sage Markandeya's devotion. He addressed the descendant of Bhrigu smilingly:
संस्तुतो भगवानित्थं मार्कण्डेयेन धीमता । नारायणो नरसख: प्रीत आह भृगूद्वहम् ॥
The Suta narrated: Bhagavan was pleased with Sage Markandeya's devotion. He addressed the descendant of Bhrigu smilingly:
श्रीभगवानुवाच
भो भो ब्रह्मर्षिवर्योऽसि सिद्ध आत्मसमाधिना । मयि भक्त्यानपायिन्या तप:स्वाध्यायसंयमै: ॥
भो भो ब्रह्मर्षिवर्योऽसि सिद्ध आत्मसमाधिना । मयि भक्त्यानपायिन्या तप:स्वाध्यायसंयमै: ॥
वयं ते परितुष्टा: स्म त्वद् बृहद्व्रतचर्यया । वरं प्रतीच्छ भद्रं ते वरदोऽस्मि त्वदीप्सितम् ॥
Bhagavan Nara-Narayana spoke:
Oh best among learned Brahmins, you're truly self-controlled and
In constant meditation on the Supreme, in unshaken Samadhi.
Pleased as we are, we wish to grant you a boon! Pray ask whatever you desire, and it shall be fulfilled!
श्रीऋषिरुवाच
जितं ते देवदेवेश प्रपन्नार्तिहराच्युत । वरेणैतावतालं नो यद् भवान् समदृश्यत ॥
गृहीत्वाजादयो यस्य श्रीमत्पादाब्जदर्शनम् । मनसा योगपक्वेन स भवान् मेऽक्षिगोचर: ॥
अथाप्यम्बुजपत्राक्ष पुण्यश्लोकशिखामणे । द्रक्ष्ये मायां यया लोक: सपालो वेद सद्भिदाम् ॥
Markandeya replied: oh Lord of gods, I have achieved your Darshan! Is that not enough?
Your Darshan is coveted by Brahma et al, who constantly hold on to your divine feet!
But Lotus-eyed Lord! Supreme among those worshipped! Now that you grant me a boon,
Pray show me the play of your Maya that engulfs even the best of gods in a false world of variety!
Sages Nara-Narayana gave a beatific smile, and said, "Sure, it shall happen so!" and went back to Badarikashrama.
The next days passed slowly for Sage Markandeya. He was unwavering in his meditation and daily ritual of prayer. He sensed Bhagavan in all the five elements, in the sun and the moon, and was completely cognizant of how Bhagavan dwelt in his own heart. But the thought repeatedly came back of his wanting to see the Lord's Maya at play!!!
One day, while Markandeya was performing his evening worship on the bank of the Pushpabhadra river, a great wind suddenly arose. That wind created a terrible sound and brought in its wake fearsome clouds that were accompanied by lightning and roaring thunder. Then poured down on all sides torrents of rain as humongous as a rain of chariot wheels!
Then the four great oceans appeared on all sides, swallowing up the surface of the earth with their wind-tossed waves. In these oceans were terrible sea monsters, fearful whirlpools and ominous rumblings.
The astonished and awe-struck sage saw all the inhabitants of the universe, including himself, being tormented within and without by the harsh winds, the bolts of lightning, and the great waves rising beyond the sky. As the whole earth was flooded, he grew perplexed and fearful.
Even as Markandeya looked on, the rain pouring down from the clouds filled the ocean more and more until that great sea, its waters violently whipped into terrifying waves by hurricanes, swelled up and covered up all the earth’s islands, mountains and continents.
The water inundated the earth, outer space, heaven and the celestial region. Indeed, the entire expanse of the universe was flooded in all directions, and out of all its inhabitants, only Markandeya was spared. With his matted hair scattered, the great sage wandered about alone in the water as if dumb and blind.
Tormented by hunger and thirst, attacked by monstrous sharks, whales and crocodiles, and battered by the wind and waves, he moved aimlessly through the infinite darkness into which he had fallen. As he grew increasingly exhausted, he lost all sense of direction and could not tell the sky from the earth.
At times he was engulfed by great whirlpools, sometimes he was beaten by mighty waves, and at other times the aquatic monsters threatened to devour him even as they attacked one another. Alternatingly, he felt lamentation, bewilderment, misery, happiness and fear, and at other times, he experienced such terrible illness and pain that he felt himself dying.
अयुतायुतवर्षाणां सहस्राणि शतानि च । व्यतीयुर्भ्रमतस्तस्मिन् विष्णुमायावृतात्मन: ॥
Countless millions of years passed as Markandeya wandered about in that deluge, his mind bewildered by the illusory energy of Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, the Parama Purusha Ishwara.
स कदाचिद् भ्रमंस्तस्मिन् पृथिव्या: ककुदि द्विज: । न्याग्रोधपोतं ददृशे फलपल्लवशोभितम् ॥
अयुतायुतवर्षाणां सहस्राणि शतानि च । व्यतीयुर्भ्रमतस्तस्मिन् विष्णुमायावृतात्मन: ॥
Countless millions of years passed as Markandeya wandered about in that deluge, his mind bewildered by the illusory energy of Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, the Parama Purusha Ishwara.
स कदाचिद् भ्रमंस्तस्मिन् पृथिव्या: ककुदि द्विज: । न्याग्रोधपोतं ददृशे फलपल्लवशोभितम् ॥
प्रागुत्तरस्यां शाखायां तस्यापि ददृशे शिशुम् । शयानं पर्णपुटके ग्रसन्तं प्रभया तम: ॥
Once, while wandering in the water, the Sage Markandeya discovered a small island upon which stood a young banyan tree bearing blossoms and fruits! Upon a branch of the northeastern portion of that tree, he saw an infant boy lying within a large basket fashioned out of banyan leaves! The child’s effulgence was swallowing up the darkness.
महामरकतश्यामं श्रीमद्वदनपङ्कजम् । कम्बुग्रीवं महोरस्कं सुनसं सुन्दरभ्रुवम् ॥
श्वासैजदलकाभातं कम्बुश्रीकर्णदाडिमम् । विद्रुमाधरभासेषच्छोणायितसुधास्मितम् ॥
पद्मगर्भारुणापाङ्गं हृद्यहासावलोकनम् । श्वासैजद्वलिसंविग्ननिम्ननाभिदलोदरम् ॥
चार्वङ्गुलिभ्यां पाणिभ्यामुन्नीय चरणाम्बुजम् । मुखे निधाय विप्रेन्द्रो धयन्तं वीक्ष्य विस्मित: ॥
The infant’s dark-blue complexion was the colour of a flawless emerald, His lotus face shone with a wealth of beauty, and his throat bore marks like the lines on a Shankha. He had a broad chest, a finely shaped nose, beautiful eyebrows, and lovely ears that resembled pomegranate flowers and that had inner folds like a Shankha's spirals. The corners of his eyes were reddish like the whorl of a lotus, and the effulgence of his coral-like lips slightly reddened the nectarean, enchanting smile on his face. As he breathed, his splendid hair trembled and his deep navel swelled and sank by the moving folds of skin on His abdomen, which resembled a banyan leaf. The exalted Sage Markandeya watched with amazement as the infant took hold of one of his lotus feet with his graceful fingers, placed the big toe within his mouth, and began to suck.
Once, while wandering in the water, the Sage Markandeya discovered a small island upon which stood a young banyan tree bearing blossoms and fruits! Upon a branch of the northeastern portion of that tree, he saw an infant boy lying within a large basket fashioned out of banyan leaves! The child’s effulgence was swallowing up the darkness.
महामरकतश्यामं श्रीमद्वदनपङ्कजम् । कम्बुग्रीवं महोरस्कं सुनसं सुन्दरभ्रुवम् ॥
श्वासैजदलकाभातं कम्बुश्रीकर्णदाडिमम् । विद्रुमाधरभासेषच्छोणायितसुधास्मितम् ॥
पद्मगर्भारुणापाङ्गं हृद्यहासावलोकनम् । श्वासैजद्वलिसंविग्ननिम्ननाभिदलोदरम् ॥
चार्वङ्गुलिभ्यां पाणिभ्यामुन्नीय चरणाम्बुजम् । मुखे निधाय विप्रेन्द्रो धयन्तं वीक्ष्य विस्मित: ॥
The infant’s dark-blue complexion was the colour of a flawless emerald, His lotus face shone with a wealth of beauty, and his throat bore marks like the lines on a Shankha. He had a broad chest, a finely shaped nose, beautiful eyebrows, and lovely ears that resembled pomegranate flowers and that had inner folds like a Shankha's spirals. The corners of his eyes were reddish like the whorl of a lotus, and the effulgence of his coral-like lips slightly reddened the nectarean, enchanting smile on his face. As he breathed, his splendid hair trembled and his deep navel swelled and sank by the moving folds of skin on His abdomen, which resembled a banyan leaf. The exalted Sage Markandeya watched with amazement as the infant took hold of one of his lotus feet with his graceful fingers, placed the big toe within his mouth, and began to suck.
Anyone who has seen a baby sucking his big toe knows how cute the sight is. Here was divinity as a child doing it!
तद्दर्शनाद् वीतपरिश्रमो मुदा प्रोत्फुल्लहृत्पद्मविलोचनाम्बुज: ।
तद्दर्शनाद् वीतपरिश्रमो मुदा प्रोत्फुल्लहृत्पद्मविलोचनाम्बुज: ।
प्रहृष्टरोमाद्भुतभावशङ्कित: प्रष्टुं पुरस्तं प्रससार बालकम् ॥
T: As Markandeya beheld the child, all his weariness vanished. Indeed, so great was his pleasure that the lotus of his heart, along with his lotus eyes, fully blossomed and the hairs on his body stood on end. Confused as to the identity of the wonderful infant, the sage approached the baby. It was simply an irrestible instinct.
T: As Markandeya beheld the child, all his weariness vanished. Indeed, so great was his pleasure that the lotus of his heart, along with his lotus eyes, fully blossomed and the hairs on his body stood on end. Confused as to the identity of the wonderful infant, the sage approached the baby. It was simply an irrestible instinct.
तावच्छिशोर्वै श्वसितेन भार्गव: सोऽन्त: शरीरं मशको यथाविशत् ।
तत्राप्यदो न्यस्तमचष्ट कृत्स्नशो यथा पुरामुह्यदतीव विस्मित: ॥
T: Just then the child inhaled, drawing Markandeya into his own body like swallowing a mosquito! There, the sage found the entire universe arrayed as it had been before its dissolution. Seeing this, Markandeya was most astonished and perplexed.
खं रोदसी भागणानद्रिसागरान् द्वीपान् सवर्षान् ककुभ: सुरासुरान् ।
T: Just then the child inhaled, drawing Markandeya into his own body like swallowing a mosquito! There, the sage found the entire universe arrayed as it had been before its dissolution. Seeing this, Markandeya was most astonished and perplexed.
खं रोदसी भागणानद्रिसागरान् द्वीपान् सवर्षान् ककुभ: सुरासुरान् ।
वनानि देशान् सरित: पुराकरान् खेटान् व्रजानाश्रमवर्णवृत्तय: ॥
महान्ति भूतान्यथ भौतिकान्यसौ कालं च नानायुगकल्पकल्पनम् ।
महान्ति भूतान्यथ भौतिकान्यसौ कालं च नानायुगकल्पकल्पनम् ।
यत् किञ्चिदन्यद् व्यवहारकारणं ददर्श विश्वं सदिवावभासितम् ॥
The sage saw the entire universe: the sky, heavens and earth, the stars, mountains, oceans, great islands and continents, the expanding space in every direction, the saintly and demoniac beings, the forests, countries, rivers, cities and mines, the agricultural lands, villages and cow pastures, and the ongoing Artha and Dharma activities of the Varna Ashramas of society.. He also saw the basic elements of creation along with all their by-products, as well as Kaala, Time itself, which regulates the progression of countless ages within the days of Lord Brahma. In addition, he saw everything else created for use in material day-to-day life. All this he saw manifested before him as if it were real. What is the word? Maya!
हिमालयं पुष्पवहां च तां नदीं निजाश्रमं यत्र ऋषी अपश्यत ।
The sage saw the entire universe: the sky, heavens and earth, the stars, mountains, oceans, great islands and continents, the expanding space in every direction, the saintly and demoniac beings, the forests, countries, rivers, cities and mines, the agricultural lands, villages and cow pastures, and the ongoing Artha and Dharma activities of the Varna Ashramas of society.. He also saw the basic elements of creation along with all their by-products, as well as Kaala, Time itself, which regulates the progression of countless ages within the days of Lord Brahma. In addition, he saw everything else created for use in material day-to-day life. All this he saw manifested before him as if it were real. What is the word? Maya!
हिमालयं पुष्पवहां च तां नदीं निजाश्रमं यत्र ऋषी अपश्यत ।
विश्वं विपश्यञ्छ्वसिताच्छिशोर्वै बहिर्निरस्तो न्यपतल्लयाब्धौ ॥
T: He saw before him the Himalayas, the Pushpabhadra river, and his own hermitage, where he had had the audience of the sages Nara-Narayana.
T: He saw before him the Himalayas, the Pushpabhadra river, and his own hermitage, where he had had the audience of the sages Nara-Narayana.
Then, as Markandeya beheld the entire universe, the infant exhaled, expelling the sage from his body and casting him back into the ocean of dissolution.
तस्मिन् पृथिव्या: ककुदि प्ररूढं वटं च तत्पर्णपुटे शयानम् ।
तस्मिन् पृथिव्या: ककुदि प्ररूढं वटं च तत्पर्णपुटे शयानम् ।
तोकं च तत्प्रेमसुधास्मितेन निरीक्षितोऽपाङ्गनिरीक्षणेन ॥
अथ तं बालकं वीक्ष्य नेत्राभ्यां धिष्ठितं हृदि । अभ्ययादतिसङ्क्लिष्ट: परिष्वक्तुमधोक्षजम् ॥
T: In that vast sea, Markandeya again saw the banyan tree growing on the tiny island and the infant boy lying within the leaf. The child glanced at him from the corner of his eyes with a smile imbued with the nectar of love, and Markandeya took him into his heart through his eyes. Greatly agitated, the sage ran to embrace Bhagavan.
तावत् स भगवान् साक्षाद् योगाधीशो गुहाशय: । अन्तर्दध ऋषे: सद्यो यथेहानीशनिर्मिता ॥
At that moment, Bhagavan, who is the original master of all Yoga and Maya, and who is hidden within everyone’s heart, became invisible to the sage, just as the vaunted achievements of a mediocre man can suddenly evaporate on closer examination!
तमन्वथ वटो ब्रह्मन् सलिलं लोकसम्प्लव: । तिरोधायि क्षणादस्य स्वाश्रमे पूर्ववत्स्थित: ॥
After the Lord disappeared, the banyan tree, the great water and the dissolution of the universe all vanished as well, and in an instant, Sage Markandeya found himself back in his own hermitage, just as before!
अथ तं बालकं वीक्ष्य नेत्राभ्यां धिष्ठितं हृदि । अभ्ययादतिसङ्क्लिष्ट: परिष्वक्तुमधोक्षजम् ॥
T: In that vast sea, Markandeya again saw the banyan tree growing on the tiny island and the infant boy lying within the leaf. The child glanced at him from the corner of his eyes with a smile imbued with the nectar of love, and Markandeya took him into his heart through his eyes. Greatly agitated, the sage ran to embrace Bhagavan.
तावत् स भगवान् साक्षाद् योगाधीशो गुहाशय: । अन्तर्दध ऋषे: सद्यो यथेहानीशनिर्मिता ॥
At that moment, Bhagavan, who is the original master of all Yoga and Maya, and who is hidden within everyone’s heart, became invisible to the sage, just as the vaunted achievements of a mediocre man can suddenly evaporate on closer examination!
तमन्वथ वटो ब्रह्मन् सलिलं लोकसम्प्लव: । तिरोधायि क्षणादस्य स्वाश्रमे पूर्ववत्स्थित: ॥
After the Lord disappeared, the banyan tree, the great water and the dissolution of the universe all vanished as well, and in an instant, Sage Markandeya found himself back in his own hermitage, just as before!
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