> > S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 12
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > *****

> > Canto 12: "The Age of Deterioration"

> > *****

> > Chapter 9: Mârkandeya Rishi Sees the Illusory Potency of the Lord

> > TEXT 1

> > sûta uvâca

> > samstuto bhagavân ittham

> > mârkandeyena dhîmatâ

> > nârâyano nara-sakhah

> > prîta âha bhrigûdvaham

> > sûtah uvâca-Sûta Gosvâmî said; samstutah-properly glorified; bhagavân-the Supreme Lord; ittham-in this way; mârkandeyena-by Mârkandeya; dhî-matâ-the intelligent sage; nârâyanah-Lord Nârâyana; nara-sakhah-the friend of Nara; prîtah-satisfied; âha-spoke; bhrigu-udvaham-to the most eminent descendant of Bhrigu.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sûta Gosvâmî said: The Supreme Lord Nârâyana, the friend of Nara, was satisfied by the proper glorification offered by the intelligent sage Mârkandeya. Thus the Lord addressed that excellent descendant of Bhrigu.

> > *****

> > TEXT 2

> > s'rî-bhagavân uvâca

> > bho bho brahmarshi-varyo 'si

> > siddha âtma-samâdhinâ

> > mayi bhaktyânapâyinyâ

> > tapah-svâdhyâya-samyamaih

> > s'rî-bhagavân uvâca-the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; bhoh bhoh-dear sage; brahma-rishi-of all learned brâhmanas; varyah-the best; asi-you are; siddhah-perfect; âtma-samâdhinâ-by fixed meditation upon the Self; mayi-directed toward Me; bhaktyâ-by devotional service; anapâyinyâ-undeviating; tapah-by austerities; svâdhyâya-study of the Vedas; samyamaih-and regulative principles.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Mârkandeya, you are indeed the best of all learned brâhmanas. You have perfected your life by practicing fixed meditation upon the Supreme Soul, as well as by focusing upon Me your undeviating devotional service, your austerities, your study of the Vedas and your strict adherence to regulative principles.

> > *****

> > TEXT 3

> > vayam te paritushthâh sma

> > tvad-brihad-vrata-caryayâ

> > varam pratîccha bhadram te

> > vara-do 'smi tvad-îpsitam

> > vayam-We; te-with you; paritushthâh-perfectly satisfied; sma-have become; tvat-your; brihat-vrata-of the vow of lifelong celibacy; caryayâ-by performance; varam-a benediction; pratîccha-please choose; bhadram-all good; te-unto you; vara-dah-the giver of benedictions; asmi-I am; tvat-îpsitam-desired by you.

> > TRANSLATION

> > We are perfectly satisfied with your practice of lifelong celibacy. Please choose whatever benediction you desire, since I can grant your wish. May you enjoy all good fortune.

> > *****

> > TEXT 4

> > s'rî-rishir uvâca

> > jitam te deva-deves'a

> > prapannârti-harâcyuta

> > varenaitâvatâlam no

> > yad bhavân samadris'yata

> > s'rî-rishih uvâca-the sage said; jitam-are victorious; te-You; deva-deva-îs'a-O Lord of lords; prapanna-of one who is surrendered; ârti-hara-O remover of all distress; acyuta-O infallible one; varena-with the benediction; etâvatâ-this much; alam-enough; nah-by us; yat-that; bhavân-Your good self; samadris'yata-has been seen.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The sage said: O Lord of lords, all glories to You! O Lord Acyuta, You remove all distress for the devotees who surrender unto You. That you have allowed me to see You is all the benediction I want.

> > *****

> > TEXT 5

> > grihîtvâjâdayo yasya

> > s'rîmat-pâdâbja-dars'anam

> > manasâ yoga-pakvena

> > sa bhavân me 'kshi-gocarah

> > grihîtvâ-receiving; aja-âdayah-(became) Brahmâ and others; yasya-whose; s'rîmat-all-opulent; pâda-abja-of the lotus feet; dars'anam-the sight; manasâ-by the mind; yoga-pakvena-matured in yoga practice; sah-He; bhavân-Yourself; me-my; akshi-to the eyes; go-carah-perceptible.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Such demigods as Lord Brahmâ achieved their exalted positions simply by seeing Your beautiful lotus feet after their minds had become mature in yoga practice. And now, my Lord, You have personally appeared before me.

> > *****

> > TEXT 6

> > athâpy ambuja-patrâksha

> > punya-s'loka-s'ikhâmane

> > drakshye mâyâm yayâ lokah

> > sa-pâlo veda sad-bhidâm

> > atha api-nonetheless; ambuja-patra-like the petals of a lotus; aksha-O You whose eyes; punya-s'loka-of famous personalities; s'ikhâmane-O crest jewel; drakshye-I desire to see; mâyâm-the illusory energy; yayâ-by which; lokah-the entire world; sa-pâlah-along with its ruling demigods; veda-considers; sat-of the absolute reality; bhidâm-material differentiation.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O lotus-eyed Lord, O crest jewel of renowned personalities, although I am satisfied simply by seeing You, I do wish to see Your illusory potency, by whose influence the entire world, together with its ruling demigods, considers reality to be materially variegated.

> > *****

> > TEXT 7

> > sûta uvâca

> > itîdito 'rcitah kâmam

> > rishinâ bhagavân mune

> > tatheti sa smayan prâgâd

> > badary-âs'ramam îs'varah

> > sûtah uvâca-Sûta Gosvâmî said; iti-in these words; îditah-glorified; arcitah-worshiped; kâmam-satisfactorily; rishinâ-by the sage Mârkandeya; bhagavân-the Personality of Godhead; mune-O wise S'aunaka; tathâ iti-"so be it"; sah-He; smayan-smiling; prâgât-departed; badarî-âs'ramam-for the hermitage Badarikâs'rama; îs'varah-the Supreme Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sûta Gosvâmî said: O wise S'aunaka, thus satisfied by Mârkandeya's praise and worship, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, smiling, replied, "So be it," and then departed for His hermitage at Badarikâs'rama.

> > *****

> > TEXTS 8-9

> > tam eva cintayann artham

> > rishih svâs'rama eva sah

> > vasann agny-arka-somâmbu-

> > bhû-vâyu-viyad-âtmasu

> > dhyâyan sarvatra ca harim

> > bhâva-dravyair apûjayat

> > kvacit pûjâm visasmâra

> > prema-prasara-samplutah

> > tam-that; eva-indeed; cintayan-thinking of; artham-the goal; rishih-the sage Mârkandeya; sva-âs'rame-at his own hermitage; eva-indeed; sah-he; vasan-remaining; agni-in the fire; arka-the sun; soma-the moon; ambu-the water; bhû-the earth; vâyu-the wind; viyat-the lightning; âtmasu-and in his own heart;

> > dhyâyan-meditating; sarvatra-in all circumstances; ca-and; harim-upon Lord Hari; bhâva-dravyaih-with paraphernalia conceived in his mind; apûjayat-he offered worship; kvacit-sometimes; pûjâm-the worship; visasmâra-he forgot; prema-of pure love of God; prasara-in the flood; samplutah-being drowned.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thinking always of his desire to see the Lord's illusory energy, the sage remained in his âs'rama, meditating constantly upon the Lord within fire, the sun, the moon, water, the earth, air, lightning and his own heart and worshiping Him with paraphernalia conceived in his mind. But sometimes, overwhelmed by waves of love for the Lord, Mârkandeya would forget to perform his regular worship.

> > *****

> > TEXT 10

> > tasyaikadâ bhrigu-s'reshthha

> > pushpabhadrâ-tathe muneh

> > upâsînasya sandhyâyâm

> > brahman vâyur abhûn mahân

> > tasya-while he; ekadâ-one day; bhrigu-s'reshthha-O best of the descendants of Bhrigu; pushpabhadrâ-tathe-on the bank of the river Pushpabhadrâ; muneh-the sage; upâsînasya-was performing worship; sandhyâyâm-at the juncture of the day; brahman-O brâhmana; vâyuh-a wind; abhût-arose; mahân-great.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O brâhmana S'aunaka, best of the Bhrigus, one day while Mârkandeya was performing his evening worship on the bank of the Pushpabhadrâ, a great wind suddenly arose.

> > *****

> > TEXT 11

> > tam canda-s'abdam samudîrayantam

> > balâhakâ anv abhavan karâlâh

> > aksha-sthavishthhâ mumucus tadidbhih

> > svananta uccair abhi varsha-dhârâh

> > tam-that wind; canda-s'abdam-a terrible sound; samudîrayantam-which was creating; balâhakâh-clouds; anu-following it; abhavan-appeared; karâlâh-fearful; aksha-like wagon wheels; sthavishthhâh-solid; mumucuh-they released; tadidbhih-along with lightning; svanantah-resounding; uccaih-greatly; abhi-in all directions; varsha-of rain; dhârâh-torrents.

> > TRANSLATION

> > That wind created a terrible sound and brought in its wake fearsome clouds that were accompanied by lightning and roaring thunder and that poured down on all sides torrents of rain as heavy as wagon wheels.

> > *****

> > TEXT 12

> > tato vyadris'yanta catuh samudrâh

> > samantatah kshmâ-talam âgrasantah

> > samîra-vegormibhir ugra-nakra-

> > mahâ-bhayâvarta-gabhîra-ghoshâh

> > tatah-then; vyadris'yanta-appeared; catuh samudrah-the four oceans; samantatah-on all sides; kshmâ-talam-the surface of the earth; âgrasantah-swallowing up; samîra-of the wind; vega-impelled by the force; ûrmibhih-with their waves; ugra-terrible; nakra-with sea monsters; mahâ-bhaya-very fearful; âvarta-with whirlpools; gabhîra-grave; ghoshâh-with sounds.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > *****

> > TEXT 13

> > antar bahis' câdbhir ati-dyubhih kharaih

> > s'atahradâbhir upatâpitam jagat

> > catur-vidham vîkshya sahâtmanâ munir

> > jalâplutâm kshmâm vimanâh samatrasat

> > antah-internally; bahih-externally; ca-and; adbhih-by the water; ati-dyubhih-rising higher than the sky; kharaih-by the fierce (winds); s'ata-hradâbhih-by lightning bolts; upatâpitam-greatly distressed; jagat-all the inhabitants of the universe; catuh-vidham-of four varieties (those who have taken birth from embryos, from eggs, from seeds and from perspiration); vîkshya-seeing; saha-along with; âtmanâ-himself; munih-the sage; jala-by the water; âplutâm-flooded; kshmâm-the earth; vimanâh-perplexed; samatrasat-he became fearful.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The sage saw all the inhabitants of the universe, including himself, tormented within and without by the harsh winds, the bolts of lightning, and the great waves rising beyond the sky. As the whole earth flooded, he grew perplexed and fearful.

> > *****

> > TEXT 14

> > tasyaivam udvîkshata ûrmi-bhîshanah

> > prabhan'janâghûrnita-vâr mahârnavah

> > âpûryamâno varashadbhir ambudaih

> > kshmâm apyadhâd dvîpa-varshâdribhih samam

> > tasya-while he; evam-in this way; udvîkshatah-was looking on; ûrmi-with its waves; bhîshanah-frightening; prabhan'jana-by hurricane winds; âghûrnita-swirled around; vâh-its water; mahâ-arnavah-the great ocean; âpûryamânah-becoming filled; varashadbhih-with rain; ambu-daih-by the clouds; kshmâm-the earth; apyadhât-covered over; dvîpa-with its islands; varsha-continents; adribhih-and mountains; samam-together.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Even as Mârkandeya 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, covered up all the earth's islands, mountains and continents.

> > *****

> > TEXT 15

> > sa-kshmântariksham sa-divam sa-bhâ-ganam

> > trai-lokyam âsît saha digbhir âplutam

> > sa eka evorvarito mahâ-munir

> > babhrâma vikshipya jathâ jadândha-vat

> > sa-along with; kshmâ-the earth; antariksham-and outer space; sa-divam-along with the heavenly planets; sa-bhâ-ganam-along with all the celestial bodies; trai-lokyam-the three worlds; âsît-became; saha-along with; digbhih-all the directions; âplutam-flooded; sah-he; ekah-alone; eva-indeed; urvaritah-remaining; mahâ-munih-the great sage; babhrâma-wandered about; vikshipya-scattering; jathâh-his matted locks; jada-a dumb person; andha-a blind person; vat-like.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 Mârkandeya remained. His matted hair scattered, the great sage wandered about alone in the water as if dumb and blind.

> > *****

> > TEXT 16

> > kshut-trith-parîto makarais timingilair

> > upadruto vîci-nabhasvatâhatah

> > tamasy apâre patito bhraman dis'o

> > na veda kham gâm ca paris'rameshitah

> > kshut-by hunger; trith-and thirst; parîtah-enveloped; makaraih-by the makaras, a species of monster crocodile; timingilaih-and by the timingila, a variety of huge fish that eats whales; upadrutah-harassed; vîci-by the waves; nabhasvatâ-and the wind; âhatah-tormented; tamasi-in the darkness; apâre-which was unlimited; patitah-having fallen; bhraman-wandering; dis'ah-the directions; na veda-did not recognize; kham-the sky; gâm-the earth; ca-and; paris'rama-ishitah-overcome by exhaustion.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Tormented by hunger and thirst, attacked by monstrous makaras and timingila fish 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.

> > *****

> > TEXTS 17-18

> > kracin magno mahâvarte

> > taralais tâditah kvacit

> > yâdobhir bhakshyate kvâpi

> > svayam anyonya-ghâtibhih

> > kvacic chokam kvacin moham

> > kvacid duhkham sukham bhayam

> > kvacin mrityum avâpnoti

> > vyâdhy-âdibhir utârditah

> > kvacit-sometimes; magnah-drowning; mahâ-âvarte-in a great whirlpool; taralaih-by the waves; tâditah-beaten; kvacit-sometimes; yâdobhih-by the aquatic monsters; bhakshyate-he was threatened with being eaten; kva api-sometimes; svayam-himself; anyonya-each other; ghâtibhih-attacking;

> > kvacit-sometimes; s'okam-depression; kvacit-sometimes; moham-bewilderment; kvacit-sometimes; duhkham-misery; sukham-happiness; bhayam-fear; kvacit-sometimes; mrityum-death; avâpnoti-he experienced; vyâdhi-by disease; âdibhih-and other pains; uta-also; arditah-distressed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > At times he was engulfed by the great whirlpools, sometimes he was beaten by the mighty waves, and at other times the aquatic monsters threatened to devour him as they attacked one another. Sometimes he felt lamentation, bewilderment, misery, happiness or fear, and at other times he experienced such terrible illness and pain that he felt himself dying.

> > *****

> > TEXT 19

> > ayutâyata-varshânâm

> > sahasrâni s'atâni ca

> > vyatîyur bhramatas tasmin

> > vishnu-mâyâvritâtmanah

> > ayuta-tens of thousands; ayuta-by tens of thousands; varshânâm-of years; sahasrâni-thousands; s'atâni-hundreds; ca-and; vyatîyuh-passed by; bhramatah-as he wandered; tasmin-in that; vishnu-mâyâ-by the illusory energy of Lord Vishnu; âvrita-covered; âtmanah-his mind.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Countless millions of years passed as Mârkandeya wandered about in that deluge, his mind bewildered by the illusory energy of Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

> > *****

> > TEXT 20

> > sa kadâcid bhramams tasmin

> > prithivyâh kakudi dvijah

> > nyâgrodha-potam dadris'e

> > phala-pallava-s'obhitam

> > sah-he; kadâcit-on one occasion; bhraman-while wandering; tasmin-in that water; prithivyâh-of earth; kakudi-upon a raised place; dvijah-the brâhmana; nyâgrodha-potam-a young banyan tree; dadris'e-saw; phala-with fruits; pallava-and blossoms; s'obhitam-decorated.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Once, while wandering in the water, the brâhmana Mârkandeya discovered a small island, upon which stood a young banyan tree bearing blossoms and fruits.

> > *****

> > TEXT 21

> > prâg-uttarasyâm s'âkhâyâm

> > tasyâpi dadris'e s'is'um

> > s'ayânam parna-puthake

> > grasantam prabhayâ tamah

> > prâk-uttarasyâm-toward the northeast; s'âkhâyâm-upon a branch; tasya-of that tree; api-indeed; dadris'e-he saw; s'is'um-an infant boy; s'ayânam-lying; parna-puthake-within the concavity of a leaf; grasantam-swallowing; prabhayâ-with His effulgence; tamah-the darkness.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Upon a branch of the northeast portion of that tree he saw an infant boy lying within a leaf. The child's effulgence was swallowing up the darkness.

> > *****

> > 22-25

> > mahâ-marakata-s'yâmam

> > s'rîmad-vadana-pankajam

> > kambu-grîvam mahoraskam

> > su-nasam sundara-bhruvam

> > s'vâsaijad-alakâbhâtam

> > kambu-s'rî-karna-dâdimam

> > vidrumâdhara-bhâseshac-

> > chonâyita-sudhâ-smitam

> > padma-garbhârunâpângam

> > hridya-hâsâvalokanam

> > s'vâsaijad-vali-samvigna-

> > nimna-nâbhi-dalodaram

> > cârv-angulibhyâm pânibhyâm

> > unnîya caranâmbujam

> > mukhe nidhâya viprendro

> > dhayantam vîkshya vismitah

> > mahâ-marakata-like a great emerald; s'yâmam-dark blue; s'rîmat-beautiful; vadana-pankajam-whose lotus face; kambu-like a conchshell; grîvam-whose throat; mahâ-broad; uraskam-whose chest; su-nasam-having a beautiful nose; sundara-bhruvam-having beautiful eyebrows;

> > s'vâsa-by His breath; ejat-trembling; alaka-with the hair; âbhâtam-splendid; kambu-like a conchshell; s'rî-beautiful; karna-His ears; dâdimam-resembling pomegranate flowers; vidruma-like coral; adhara-of His lips; bhâsâ-by the effulgence; îshat-slightly; s'onâyita-reddened; sudhâ-nectarean; smitam-His smile;

> > padma-garbha-like the whorl of a lotus; aruna-reddish; apângam-the corners of His eyes; hridya-charming; hâsa-with a smile; avalokanam-His countenance; s'vâsa-by His breath; ejat-made to move; vali-by the lines; samvigna-contorted; nimna-deep; nâbhi-with His navel; dala-like a leaf; udaram-whose abdomen;

> > câru-attractive; angulibhyâm-having fingers; pânibhyâm-by His two hands; unnîya-picking up; carana-ambujam-His lotus foot; mukhe-in His mouth; nidhâya-placing; vipra-indrah-the best of brâhmanas, Mârkandeya; dhayantam-drinking; vîkshya-seeing; vismitah-was amazed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The infant's dark-blue complexion was the color of a flawless emerald, His lotus face shone with a wealth of beauty, and His throat bore marks like the lines on a conchshell. 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 conchshell'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 became distorted by the moving folds of skin on His abdomen, which resembled a banyan leaf. The exalted brâhmana watched with amazement as the infant took hold of one of His lotus feet with His graceful fingers, placed a toe within His mouth and began to suck.

> > *****

> > TEXT 26

> > tad-dars'anâd vîta-paris'ramo mudâ

> > protphulla-hrit-paulma-vilocanâmbujah

> > prahrishtha-româdbhuta-bhâva-s'ankitah

> > prashthum puras tam prasasâra bâlakam

> > tat-dars'anât-by seeing the child; vîta-dispelled; paris'ramah-his weariness; mudâ-out of pleasure; protphulla-expanded wide; hrit-padma-the lotus of his heart; vilocana-ambujah-and his lotus eyes; prahrishtha-standing on end; româ-the hairs on his body; adbhuta-bhâva-about the identity of this wonderful form; s'ankitah-confused; prashthum-in order to inquire; purah-in front; tam-of Him; prasasâra-he approached; bâlakam-the child.

> > TRANSLATION

> > As Mârkandeya 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 Him.

> > *****

> > TEXT 27

> > tâvac chis'or vai s'vasitena bhârgavah

> > so 'ntah s'arîram mas'ako yathâvis'at

> > tatrâpy ado nyastam acashtha kritsnas'o

> > yathâ purâmuhyad atîva vismitah

> > tâvat-at that very moment; s'is'oh-of the infant; vai-indeed; s'vasitena-with the breathing; bhârgavah-the descendant of Bhrigu; sah-he; antah s'arîram-within the body; mas'akah-a mosquito; yathâ-just like; avis'at-entered; tatra-therein; api-indeed; adah-this universe; nyastam-placed; acashtha-he saw; kritsnas'ah-entire; yathâ-as; purâ-previously; amuhyat-he became bewildered; atîva-extremely; vismitah-surprised.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Just then the child inhaled, drawing Mârkandeya within His body like a mosquito. There the sage found the entire universe arrayed as it had been before its dissolution. Seeing this, Mârkandeya was most astonished and perplexed.

> > *****

> > TEXTS 28 - 29

> > kham rodasî bhâ-ganân adri-sâgarân

> > dvîpân sa-varshân kakubhah surâsurân

> > vanâni des'ân saritah purâkarân

> > khethân vrajân âs'rama-varna-vrittayah

> > mahânti bhûtâny atha bhautikâny asau

> > kâlam ca nânâ-yuga-kalpa-kalpanam

> > yat kin'cid anyad vyavahâra-kâranam

> > dadars'a vis'vam sad ivâvabhâsitam

> > kham-the sky; rodasî-the heavens and earth; bhâ-ganân-all the stars; adri-the mountains; sâgarân-and oceans; dvîpân-the great islands; sa-varshân-along with the continents; kakubhah-the directions; sura-asurân-the saintly devotees and the demons; vanâni-the forests; des'ân-the various countries; saritah-the rivers; pura-the cities; âkarân-and the mines; khethân-the agricultural villages; vrajân-the cow pastures; âs'rama-varna-of the various spiritual and occupational divisions of society; vrittayah-the engagements;

> > mahânti bhûtâni-the basic elements of nature; atha-and; bhautikâni-all their gross manifestations; asau-he; kâlam-time; ca-also; nânâ-yuga-kalpa-of the different millennia and the days of Brahmâ; kalpanam-the regulating agent; yat kin'cit-whatever; anyat-other; vyavahâra-kâranam-object intended for use in material life; dadars'a-he saw; vis'vam-the universe; sat-real; iva-as if; avabhâsitam-manifest.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The sage saw the entire universe: the sky, heavens and earth, the stars, mountains, oceans, great islands and continents, the expanses in every direction, the saintly and demoniac living beings, the forests, countries, rivers, cities and mines, the agricultural villages and cow pastures, and the occupational and spiritual activities of the various social divisions. He also saw the basic elements of creation along with all their by-products, as well as time itself, which regulates the progression of countless ages within the days of Brahmâ. In addition, he saw everything else created for use in material life. All this he saw manifested before him as if it were real.

> > *****

> > TEXT 30

> > himâlayam pushpavahâm ca tâm nadîm

> > nijâs'ramam yatra rishî apas'yata

> > vis'vam vipas'yan' chvasitâc chis'or vai

> > bahir nirasto nyapatal layâbdhau

> > himâlayam-the Himâlaya Mountains; pushpa-vahâm-Pushpabhadrâ; ca-and; tâm-that; nadîm-river; nija-âs'ramam-his own hermitage; yatra-where; rishî-the two sages, Nara-Nârâyana; apas'yata-he saw; vis'vam-the universe; vipas'yan-while observing; s'vasitât-by the breath; s'is'oh-of the infant; vai-indeed; bahih-outside; nirastah-expelled; nyapatat-he fell; laya-abdhau-into the ocean of dissolution.

> > TRANSLATION

> > He saw before him the Himâlaya Mountains, the Pushpabhadrâ River, and his own hermitage, where he had had the audience of the sages Nara-Nârâyana. Then, as Mârkandeya beheld the entire universe, the infant exhaled, expelling the sage from His body and casting him back into the ocean of dissolution.

> > *****

> > TEXTS 31 - 32

> > tasmin prithivyâh kakudi prarûdham

> > vatham ca tat-parna-puthe s'ayânam

> > tokam ca tat-prema-sudhâ-smitena

> > nirîkshito 'pânga-nirîkshanena

> > atha tam bâlakam vîkshya

> > netrâbhyâm dhishthhitam hridi

> > abhyayâd ati-sanklishthah

> > parishvaktum adhokshajam

> > tasmin-in that water; prithivyâh-of land; kakudi-on the raised place; prarûdham-growing up; vatham-the banyan tree; ca-and; tat-of it; parna-puthe-within the slight depression of the leaf; s'ayânam-lying; tokam-the child; ca-and; tat-for himself; prema-of love; sudhâ-like nectar; smitena-with a smile; nirîkshitah-being looked upon; apânga-of the corner of His eyes; nirîkshanena-by the glance;

> > atha-then; tam-that; bâlakam-infant; vîkshya-looking upon; netrâbhyâm-by his eyes; dhishthhitam-placed; hridi-within his heart; abhyayât-ran forward; ati-sanklishthah-greatly agitated; parishvaktum-to embrace; adhokshajam-the transcendental Supreme Lord.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In that vast sea he 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 Mârkandeya took Him into his heart through his eyes. Greatly agitated, the sage ran to embrace the transcendental Personality of Godhead.

> > *****

> > TEXT 33

> > tâvat sa bhagavân sâkshâd

> > yogâdhîs'o guhâ-s'ayah

> > antardadha risheh sadyo

> > yathehânîs'a-nirmitâ

> > tâvat-just then; sah-He; bhagavân-the Personality of Godhead; sâkshât-directly; yoga-adhîs'ah-the supreme master of yoga; guhâ-s'ayah-who is hidden within the heart of all living beings; antardadhe-disappeared; risheh-in front of the sage; sadyah-suddenly; yathâ-in the same way as; îhâ-the object of endeavor; anîs'a-by an incompetent person; nirmitâ-created.

> > TRANSLATION

> > At that moment the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the original master of all mysticism and who is hidden within everyone's heart, became invisible to the sage, just as the achievements of an incompetent person can suddenly vanish.

> > *****

> > TEXT 34

> > tam anv atha vatho brahman

> > salilam loka-samplavah

> > tirodhâyi kshanâd asya

> > svâs'rame pûrva-vat sthitah

> > tam-Him; anu-following; atha-then; vathah-the banyan tree; brahman-O brâhmana, S'aunaka; salilam-the water; loka-samplavah-the annihilation of the universe; tirodhâyi-they disappeared; kshanât-immediately; asya-in front of him; sva-âs'rame-in his own hermitage; pûrva-vat-as previously; sthitah-he was present.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After the Lord disappeared, O brâhmana, the banyan tree, the great water and the dissolution of the universe all vanished as well, and in an instant Mârkandeya found himself back in his own hermitage, just as before.

> > Back to the running text