॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Srimad Bhagavatam - Skandha XII.10 Monday, 21 August 2023 - Sage Markandeya ia blessed by Bhagavan Shiva.
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After that spectacular experience of Bhagavan’s Vishnu Maya that consisted of an unimaginable dissolution of creation, the Darshan of Bhagavan as a small infant in a banyan leaf casket, and the subsequent display of Vishwaroopa, Sage Markandeya realised the only recourse for him was total surrender to Bhagavan.
श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच
प्रपन्नोऽस्म्यङ्घ्रिमूलं ते प्रपन्नाभयदं हरे । यन्माययापि विबुधा मुह्यन्ति ज्ञानकाशया ॥
T: Sage Markandeya prayed: Oh Lord Hari, I take shelter at your lotus feet, which bestow fearlessness upon all who surrender to them. Even the great gods are bewildered by Your Yoga Maya, which befools them in the guise of “knowledge”!
(This is stated even in Kathopanishad. What we call knowledge and so are proud of is indeed the most delusory of forces!)
Just then, Bhagavan Shiva happened to pass in the sky, accompanied by his beloved consort Devi Parvati, riding his vehicle, Nandi, surrounded by his Ganas. Goddess Uma, noticing below the sage, addressed Lord Girisha: “My lord, just see this learned Brahmin! He holds his body, mind and senses motionless in Samadhi! He reminds me of the calm ocean with no waves nor stirring of big fish. Oh, Lord! You are most gracious to such Yogis, please deign to grace him!”
प्रपन्नोऽस्म्यङ्घ्रिमूलं ते प्रपन्नाभयदं हरे । यन्माययापि विबुधा मुह्यन्ति ज्ञानकाशया ॥
T: Sage Markandeya prayed: Oh Lord Hari, I take shelter at your lotus feet, which bestow fearlessness upon all who surrender to them. Even the great gods are bewildered by Your Yoga Maya, which befools them in the guise of “knowledge”!
(This is stated even in Kathopanishad. What we call knowledge and so are proud of is indeed the most delusory of forces!)
Just then, Bhagavan Shiva happened to pass in the sky, accompanied by his beloved consort Devi Parvati, riding his vehicle, Nandi, surrounded by his Ganas. Goddess Uma, noticing below the sage, addressed Lord Girisha: “My lord, just see this learned Brahmin! He holds his body, mind and senses motionless in Samadhi! He reminds me of the calm ocean with no waves nor stirring of big fish. Oh, Lord! You are most gracious to such Yogis, please deign to grace him!”
श्रीभगवानुवाच
नैवेच्छत्याशिष: क्वापि ब्रह्मर्षिर्मोक्षमप्युत । भक्तिं परां भगवति लब्धवान् पुरुषेऽव्यये ॥
अथापि संवदिष्यामो भवान्येतेन साधुना । अयं हि परमो लाभो नृणां साधुसमागम: ॥
Bhagavan Shiva smiled and replied, “ Devi, surely this saintly Brahmin desires no benediction nor even liberation, as he is filled with supreme Bhakti to the Eternal Parama Purusha. And yet, let’s go speak with the sage, for it is the greatest experience for everyone to seek the company of such perfect masters!”
The divine consorts descended in front of Sage Markandeya. He was in deep samadhi, as Devi Uma had commented earlier. His body, mind, and senses, were all stilled beyond stirring. Therefore he did not notice the divine couple! Bhagavan Shiva now graciously penetrated into the Samadhi of Markandeya through his Yoga Maya. Instantly, the sage witnessed the ten-armed Bhagavan Rudra Shiva within himself, splendorous as ever, holding his famous trident and other paraphernalia, wearing a tiger skin! Wonderstruck, the sage opened his eyes, and lo and behold, Bhagavan Shankara and Devi Parvati were standing right in front of him!
Markandeya was overwhelmed. He received them with their followers with the highest of devotion, served them after seating them by offering them words of welcome, water for washing their feet, scented drinking water, fragrant oils, flower garlands and Arati lamps.
नैवेच्छत्याशिष: क्वापि ब्रह्मर्षिर्मोक्षमप्युत । भक्तिं परां भगवति लब्धवान् पुरुषेऽव्यये ॥
अथापि संवदिष्यामो भवान्येतेन साधुना । अयं हि परमो लाभो नृणां साधुसमागम: ॥
Bhagavan Shiva smiled and replied, “ Devi, surely this saintly Brahmin desires no benediction nor even liberation, as he is filled with supreme Bhakti to the Eternal Parama Purusha. And yet, let’s go speak with the sage, for it is the greatest experience for everyone to seek the company of such perfect masters!”
The divine consorts descended in front of Sage Markandeya. He was in deep samadhi, as Devi Uma had commented earlier. His body, mind, and senses, were all stilled beyond stirring. Therefore he did not notice the divine couple! Bhagavan Shiva now graciously penetrated into the Samadhi of Markandeya through his Yoga Maya. Instantly, the sage witnessed the ten-armed Bhagavan Rudra Shiva within himself, splendorous as ever, holding his famous trident and other paraphernalia, wearing a tiger skin! Wonderstruck, the sage opened his eyes, and lo and behold, Bhagavan Shankara and Devi Parvati were standing right in front of him!
Markandeya was overwhelmed. He received them with their followers with the highest of devotion, served them after seating them by offering them words of welcome, water for washing their feet, scented drinking water, fragrant oils, flower garlands and Arati lamps.
आह त्वात्मानुभावेन पूर्णकामस्य ते विभो । करवाम किमीशान येनेदं निर्वृतं जगत् ॥
नम: शिवाय शान्ताय सत्त्वाय प्रमृडाय च । रजोजुषेऽथ घोराय नमस्तुभ्यं तमोजुषे ॥
T: Markandeya said: “Oh mighty lord, what can I possibly offer to please you, when you are divine bliss personified? It is only your grace that maintains this world! Kindly accept my repeated obeisances. Bhagavan, you are purity in the form of Sattva, you are terrifying in the mode of Rajas, and you also pervade the indolence of Tamas!”
Bhagavan Shiva smiled most graciously and responded to the devoted sage.
श्रीभगवानुवाच
वरं वृणीष्व न: कामं वरदेशा वयं त्रय: । अमोघं दर्शनं येषां मर्त्यो यद् विन्दतेऽमृतम् ॥
ब्राह्मणा: साधव: शान्ता नि:सङ्गा भूतवत्सला: । एकान्तभक्ता अस्मासु निर्वैरा: समदर्शिन: ॥
सलोका लोकपालास्तान् वन्दन्त्यर्चन्त्युपासते । अहं च भगवान् ब्रह्मा स्वयं च हरिरीश्वर: ॥
न ते मय्यच्युतेऽजे च भिदामण्वपि चक्षते । नात्मनश्च जनस्यापि तद् युष्मान् वयमीमहि ॥
न ह्यम्मयानि तीर्थानि न देवाश्चेतनोज्झिता: । ते पुनन्त्युरुकालेन यूयं दर्शनमात्रत: ॥
ब्राह्मणेभ्यो नमस्यामो येऽस्मद्रूपं त्रयीमयम् । बिभ्रत्यात्मसमाधानतप:स्वाध्यायसंयमै: ॥
श्रवणाद् दर्शनाद् वापि महापातकिनोऽपि व: । शुध्येरन्नन्त्यजाश्चापि किमु सम्भाषणादिभि: ॥
T: Lord Shiva spoke:
"Holy Sage, Pray ask for a boon!
Indeed, Vishnu, Brahma and I are generous with boons.
Thus, for mortals, our Darshan is never in vain.
As for you, holy Brahmin, your lot are the world’s benefactors by their peace and penance. They seek union with us in solitude, and harbour never any malice.
No wonder then that the gods come to worship their feet!
This goes even for Brahma, Vishnu and me!
The true devotee like you makes no distinction in me, Vishnu, or Brahma, for you see yourselves the same as everyone else! Thus you receive our reverence.
Do mere water bodies make a holy place? Or a temple of statues? Nay!
To discover divinity in specific places and waters takes a long period of penance.
But the grace pouring out from holy men like you emancipate at once the one so fortunate by your Darshan!
What then is the secret of holy sages like you? You have engaged in the true study of the Vedas, and have realised the unity of all, the Vedas being no different from Bhagavan Vishnu, Brahma or me! Thus, my obeisances, oh Markandeya! Just hearing of you holy men cleanses the worst lot of men. Imagine the grace pouring out on one who gets your Darshan!"
सूत उवाच
इति चन्द्रललामस्य धर्मगुह्योपबृंहितम् । वचोऽमृतायनमृषिर्नातृप्यत् कर्णयो: पिबन् ॥
स चिरं मायया विष्णोर्भ्रामित: कर्शितो भृशम् । शिववागमृतध्वस्तक्लेशपुञ्जस्तमब्रवीत् ॥
T: The Suta narrated: These words of the Lord who sports the crescent moon in his crest, conveying the core of Dharma, delighted the sage and left him hankering for more.
Note that he did not consider it flattery or personal praise. Indeed, he had gone through a life-transforming first-hand experience of Bhagavan Vishnu’s Maha Maya. He found Bhagavan’s Shiva’s Darshan and words therefore cathartic.He replied to Lord Shiva:
श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच
अहो ईश्वरलीलेयं दुर्विभाव्या शरीरिणाम् । यन्नमन्तीशितव्यानि स्तुवन्ति जगदीश्वरा: ॥
धर्मं ग्राहयितुं प्राय: प्रवक्तारश्च देहिनाम् । आचरन्त्यनुमोदन्ते क्रियमाणं स्तुवन्ति च ॥
नैतावता भगवत: स्वमायामयवृत्तिभि: । न दुष्येतानुभावस्तैर्मायिन: कुहकं यथा ॥
T: Sage Markandeya spoke: "Indeed, Lord, isn’t it marvellous that the very divinities that take care of all of us come down and offer us words of praise? When upholders of Dharma make a special mention of any Jiva’s good deeds, it is a part of their own way of fostering and perpetuating Dharma in this world. Bhagavan, your ostensible humility and reverence is indeed your way of blessing us! Bhagavan’s Maya may confuse everyone but himself!"
श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच
अहो ईश्वरलीलेयं दुर्विभाव्या शरीरिणाम् । यन्नमन्तीशितव्यानि स्तुवन्ति जगदीश्वरा: ॥
धर्मं ग्राहयितुं प्राय: प्रवक्तारश्च देहिनाम् । आचरन्त्यनुमोदन्ते क्रियमाणं स्तुवन्ति च ॥
नैतावता भगवत: स्वमायामयवृत्तिभि: । न दुष्येतानुभावस्तैर्मायिन: कुहकं यथा ॥
T: Sage Markandeya spoke: "Indeed, Lord, isn’t it marvellous that the very divinities that take care of all of us come down and offer us words of praise? When upholders of Dharma make a special mention of any Jiva’s good deeds, it is a part of their own way of fostering and perpetuating Dharma in this world. Bhagavan, your ostensible humility and reverence is indeed your way of blessing us! Bhagavan’s Maya may confuse everyone but himself!"
सृष्ट्वेदं मनसा विश्वमात्मनानुप्रविश्य य: । गुणै: कुर्वद्भिराभाति कर्तेव स्वप्नदृग् यथा ॥
तस्मै नमो भगवते त्रिगुणाय गुणात्मने । केवलायाद्वितीयाय गुरवे ब्रह्ममूर्तये ॥
"Creating this world by mere thought power, the Lord permeates it
And creates the interplay of Gunas,
For the Lord this is as much a play as is the dream for a dreamer.
Working through the Gunas, yet the Lord is above their influence.
Brahman supreme, my obeisances to the one and only Paramatma Ishwara!"
कं वृणे नु परं भूमन् वरं त्वद् वरदर्शनात् । यद्दर्शनात् पूर्णकाम: सत्यकाम: पुमान् भवेत् ॥
वरमेकं वृणेऽथापि पूर्णात् कामाभिवर्षणात् । भगवत्यच्युतां भक्तिं तत्परेषु तथा त्वयि ॥
"Oh, Lord, what boons do I want? Your Darshan is your greatest gift! Man reaches ultimate fulfilment verily by this Darshan. On second thought, indeed I wish to ask you for one boon. Kindly grant me infallible devotion to the Ultimate Paramatma, yourself and his beloved devotees!"
सूत उवाच
इत्यर्चितोऽभिष्टुतश्च मुनिना सूक्तया गिरा । तमाह भगवाञ्छर्व: शर्वया चाभिनन्दित: ॥
कामो महर्षे सर्वोऽयं भक्तिमांस्त्वमधोक्षजे । आकल्पान्ताद् यश: पुण्यमजरामरता तथा ॥
ज्ञानं त्रैकालिकं ब्रह्मन् विज्ञानं च विरक्तिमत् । ब्रह्मवर्चस्विनो भूयात् पुराणाचार्यतास्तु ते ॥
The Suta continued:
Lord Shiva liked Markandeya’s pleas, and with Devi’s nodding approval, said:
“Dear Sage, by your very devotion to Bhagavan Maha Vishnu, all your desires shall come true. I bless you to live to the end of creation, with spotless fame for your Bhakti, and free from illness and old age. With your knowledge of the past, present and future, you shall be the exemplary sage of the Puranas. You are renunciation incarnate, and exude the ultimate realisation of the Brahmin- the true seeker of Brahman!"
Saying this, Lord Shiva departed with Devi and his attendants. The two were still discussing the Maya vision that Markandeya had received.
सूत उवाच
एवं वरान् स मुनये दत्त्वागात् त्र्यक्ष ईश्वर: । देव्यै तत्कर्म कथयन्ननुभूतं पुरामुना ॥
सोऽप्यवाप्तमहायोगमहिमा भार्गवोत्तम: । विचरत्यधुनाप्यद्धा हरावेकान्ततां गत: ॥
अनुवर्णितमेतत्ते मार्कण्डेयस्य धीमत: । अनुभूतं भगवतो मायावैभवमद्भुतम् ॥
एतत् केचिदविद्वांसो मायासंसृतिरात्मन: । अनाद्यावर्तितं नृणां कादाचित्कं प्रचक्षते ॥
य एवमेतद् भृगुवर्य वर्णितं रथाङ्गपाणेरनुभावभावितम् ।
संश्रावयेत् संशृणुयादु तावुभौ तयोर्न कर्माशयसंसृतिर्भवेत् ॥
The Suta concluded: Sage Markandeya, exalted descendant of Sage Bhrigu, even now roams the world, sanctifying all with his mastery over Yoga. The one phrase to describe his state is Total Bhakti to Paramatma.
This story of the amazing Rishi Markandeya and the exhibition of Maha Maya by Bhagavan Vishnu at his request is significant. It is not to be confused foolishly with how we are deluded on a daily basis and caught in our Karma cycle. This sage, and his experience, are so sacred that anyone who catches its import will soon be free from the cycle of Karma and the bondage of rebirth!
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