sūtaḥ uvāca — Sūta Gosvāmī said; saḥ — he, Mārkaṇḍeya; evam — in this way; anubhūya — experiencing; idam — this; nārāyaṇa-vinirmitam — manufactured by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa; vaibhavam — the opulent exhibition; yoga-māyāyāḥ — of His internal mystic energy; tam — to Him; eva — indeed; śaraṇam — for shelter; yayau — he went.

śrī-mārkaṇḍeyaḥ uvāca — Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said; prapannaḥ — surrendered; asmi — I am; aṅghri-mūlam — to the soles of the lotus feet; te — Your; prapanna — of those who surrender; abhaya-dam — the giver of fearlessness; hare — O Lord Hari; yat-māyayā — by whose illusory potency; api — even; vibudhāḥ — intelligent demigods; muhyanti — become bewildered; jñāna-kāśayā — which falsely appears as knowledge.

sūtaḥ uvāca — Sūta Gosvāmī said; tam — him, Mārkaṇḍeya Ṛṣi; evam — thus; nibhṛta-ātmānam — his mind completely absorbed in trance; vṛṣeṇa — on his bull; divi — in the sky; paryaṭan — traveling; rudrāṇyā — accompanied by his consort, Rudrāṇī (Umā); bhagavān — the powerful lord; rudraḥ — Śiva; dadarśa — saw; sva-gaṇaiḥ — by his entourage; vṛtaḥ — surrounded.

atha — then; umā — Umā; tam — that; ṛṣim — sage; vīkṣya — seeing; giriśam — to Lord Śiva; samabhāṣata — spoke; paśya — just see; imam — this; bhagavan — my lord; vipram — learned brāhmaṇa; nibhṛta — motionless; ātma-indriya-āśayam — his body, senses and mind.

nibhṛta — stationary; uda — water; jhaṣa-vrātaḥ — and schools of fish; vāta — of the wind; apāye — upon the ceasing; yathā — just as; arṇavaḥ — the ocean; kuru — please make; asya — his; tapasaḥ — of the austerities; sākṣāt — manifest; saṁsiddhim — perfection; siddhi-daḥ — the bestower of perfection; bhavān — you.

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the powerful lord said; na — not; eva — indeed; icchati — desires; āśiṣaḥ — benedictions; kva api — in any realm; brahma-ṛṣiḥ — the saintly brāhmaṇa; mokṣam — liberation; api uta — even; bhaktim — devotional service; parām — transcendental; bhagavati — for the Supreme Lord; labdhavān — he has achieved; puruṣe — for the Personality of Godhead; avyaye — who is inexhaustible.

atha api — nevertheless; saṁvadiṣyāmaḥ — we shall converse; bhavāni — my dear Bhavānī; etena — with this; sādhunā — pure devotee; ayam — this; hi — indeed; paramaḥ — the best; lābhaḥ — gain; nṛṇām — for men; sādhu-samāgamaḥ — the association of saintly devotees.

sūtaḥ uvāca — Sūta Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; uktvā — having said; tam — to the sage; upeyāya — going; bhagavān — the exalted demigod; saḥ — he; satām — of the pure souls; gatiḥ — the shelter; īśānaḥ — the master; sarva-vidyānām — of all branches of knowledge; īśvaraḥ — the controller; sarva-dehinām — of all embodied living beings.

tayoḥ — of the two of them; āgamanam — the arrival; sākṣāt — in person; īśayoḥ — of the powerful personalities; jagat-ātmanoḥ — the controllers of the universe; na veda — he did not notice; ruddha — checked; dhī-vṛttiḥ — the functioning of his mind; ātmānam — himself; viśvam — the external universe; eva — indeed; ca — also.

bhagavān — the great personality; tat — that; abhijñāya — understanding; giriśaḥ — Lord Giriśa; yoga-māyayā — by his mystic power; āviśat — entered; tat — of Mārkaṇḍeya; guhā-ākāśam — the hidden sky of the heart; vāyuḥ — the air; chidram — a hole; iva — as if; īśvaraḥ — the lord.

ātmani — within himself; api — also; śivam — Lord Śiva; prāptam — arrived; taḍit — like lightning; piṅga — yellowish; jaṭā — locks of hair; dharam — carrying; tri-akṣam — with three eyes; daśa-bhujam — and ten arms; prāṁśum — very tall; udyantam — rising; iva — as; bhāskaram — the sun; vyāghra — of a tiger; carma — the fur; ambaram — as his garment; śūla — with his trident; dhanuḥ — bow; iṣu — arrows; asi — sword; carmabhiḥ — and shield; akṣa-mālā — his prayer beads; ḍamaruka — small drum; kapālam — and skull; paraśum — ax; saha — together with; bibhrāṇam — exhibiting; sahasā — suddenly; bhātam — manifest; vicakṣya — seeing; hṛdi — in his heart; vismitaḥ — surprised; kim — what; idam — this; kutaḥ — from where; eva — indeed; iti — thus; samādheḥ — from his trance; virataḥ — desisted; muniḥ — the sage.

netre — his eyes; unmīlya — opening; dadṛśe — he saw; sa-gaṇam — with his associates; sa-umayā — and with Umā; āgatam — having arrived; rudram — Lord Rudra; tri-loka — of the three worlds; eka-gurum — the one spiritual master; nanāma — he offered his obeisances; śirasā — with his head; muniḥ — the sage.

tasmai — to him; saparyām — worship; vyadadhāt — he offered; sa-gaṇāya — together with his associates; saha umayā — together with Umā; su-āgata — by words of greeting; āsana — offering of sitting places; pādya — water for bathing the feet; arghya — fragrant drinking water; gandha — perfumed oil; srak — garlands; dhūpa — incense; dīpakaiḥ — and lamps.

āha — Mārkaṇḍeya said; tu — indeed; ātma-anubhāvena — by your own experience of ecstasy; pūrṇa-kāmasya — who is satisfied in all respects; te — for you; vibho — O mighty one; karavāma — I can do; kim — what; īśāna — O lord; yena — by whom; idam — this; nirvṛtam — is made peaceful; jagat — the entire world.

namaḥ — obeisances; śivāya — to the all-auspicious; śāntāya — peaceful; sattvāya — the personification of material goodness; pramṛḍāya — the giver of pleasure; ca — and; rajaḥ-juṣe — to him who is in contact with the mode of passion; atha — also; ghorāya — terrible; namaḥ — obeisances; tubhyam — to you; tamaḥ-juṣe — who associates with the mode of ignorance.

sūtaḥ uvāca — Sūta Gosvāmī said; evam — in these words; stutaḥ — praised; saḥ — he; bhagavān — the powerful Lord Śiva; ādi-devaḥ — the foremost of demigods; satām — of the saintly devotees; gatiḥ — the shelter; parituṣṭaḥ — perfectly satisfied; prasanna-ātmā — happy in his mind; prahasan — smiling; tam — to Mārkaṇḍeya; abhāṣata — spoke.

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — Lord Śiva said; varam — a benediction; vṛṇīṣva — please choose; naḥ — from us; kāmam — as desired; vara-da — of all givers of benedictions; īśāḥ — the controlling lords; vayam — we; trayaḥ — three (Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara); amogham — never in vain; darśanam — the seeing; yeṣām — of whom; martyaḥ — a mortal being; yat — by which; vindate — achieves; amṛtam — immortality.

brāhmaṇāḥ — brāhmaṇas; sādhavaḥ — saintly in behavior; śāntāḥ — peaceful and free of envy and other bad qualities; niḥsaṅgāḥ — free of material association; bhūta-vatsalāḥ — compassionate to all living beings; eka-anta-bhaktāḥ — unalloyed devotees; asmāsu — of ourselves (Brahmā, Lord Śrī Hari and Śiva); nirvairāḥ — never hateful; sama-darśinaḥ — seeing equally; sa-lokāḥ — with the inhabitants of all the worlds; loka-pālāḥ — the rulers of the various planets; tān — those brāhmaṇas; vandanti — glorify; arcanti — worship; upāsate — assist; aham — I; ca — also; bhagavān — the great lord; brahmā — Brahmā; svayam — Himself; ca — also; hariḥ — Lord Hari; īśvaraḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

na — do not; te — they; mayi — in me; acyute — in Lord Viṣṇu; aje — in Lord Brahmā; ca — and; bhidām — difference; aṇu — slight; api — even; cakṣate — see; na — not; ātmanaḥ — of themselves; ca — and; janasya — of other people; api — also; tat — therefore; yuṣmān — yourselves; vayam — we; īmahi — worship.

na — not; hi — indeed; ap-mayāni — consisting of sacred water; tīrthāni — holy places; na — not; devāḥ — deity forms of demigods; cetana-ujjhitāḥ — devoid of life; te — they; punanti — purify; uru-kālena — after a long time; yūyam — yourselves; darśana-mātrataḥ — simply by being seen.

brāhmaṇebhyaḥ — to the brāhmaṇas; namasyāmaḥ — we offer our respects; ye — who; asmat-rūpam — the form of ourselves (Śiva, Brahmā and Viṣṇu); trayī-mayam — represented by the three Vedas; bibhrati — carry; ātma-samādhāna — by meditative trance focused on the Self; tapaḥ — by austerities; svādhyāya — by study; saṁyamaiḥ — and by following regulative principles.

śravaṇāt — by hearing about; darśanāt — by seeing; vā — or; api — also; mahā-pātakinaḥ — those who commit the worst kinds of sins; api — even; vaḥ — you; śudhyeran — they become purified; antya-jāḥ — outcastes; ca — and; api — even; kim u — what to speak of; sambhāṣaṇa-ādibhiḥ — by directly speaking with, and so on.

sūtaḥ uvāca — Sūta Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; candra-lalāmasya — of Lord Śiva, who is decorated with the moon; dharma-guhya — with the secret essence of religion; upabṛṁhitam — filled; vacaḥ — the words; amṛta-ayanam — the reservoir of nectar; ṛṣiḥ — the sage; na atṛpyat — did not feel satiated; karṇayoḥ — with his ears; piban — drinking.

saḥ — he; ciram — for a long time; māyayā — by the illusory energy; viṣṇoḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu; bhrāmitaḥ — made to wander; karśitaḥ — exhausted; bhṛśam — extremely; śiva — of Lord Śiva; vāk-amṛta — by the words of nectar; dhvasta — destroyed; kleśa-puñjaḥ — his heaps of suffering; tam — to him; abravīt — spoke.

śrī-mārkaṇḍeyaḥ uvāca — Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya said; aho — ah; īśvara — of the great lords; līlā — the pastime; iyam — this; durvibhāvyā — inconceivable; śarīriṇām — for embodied souls; yat — since; namanti — they offer obeisances; īśitavyāni — to those who are controlled by them; stuvanti — they praise; jagat-īśvarāḥ — the rulers of the universe.

dharmam — religion; grāhayitum — to cause the acceptance of; prāyaḥ — for the most part; pravaktāraḥ — the authorized speakers; ca — and; dehinām — for ordinary embodied souls; ācaranti — they act; anumodante — they encourage; kriyamāṇam — one who is executing; stuvanti — they praise; ca — also.

na — not; etāvatā — by such (a show of humility); bhagavataḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; sva-māyā — of His own illusory energy; maya — consisting of; vṛttibhiḥ — by the activities; na duṣyeta — is not spoiled; anubhāvaḥ — the power; taiḥ — by them; māyinaḥ — of a magician; kuhakam — the tricks; yathā — just as.

sṛṣṭvā — creating; idam — this; manasā — by His mind, simply by His desire; viśvam — the universe; ātmanā — as the Supersoul; anupraviśya — subsequently entering; yaḥ — who; guṇaiḥ — by the modes of nature; kurvadbhiḥ — which are acting; ābhāti — appears; kartā iva — as if the doer; svapna-dṛk — a person who is seeing a dream; yathā — as; tasmai — unto Him; namaḥ — obeisances; bhagavate — unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tri-guṇāya — who possesses the three modes of nature; guṇa-ātmane — who is the ultimate controller of the modes of nature; kevalāya — to the pure; advitīyāya — who has no equal; gurave — the supreme spiritual master; brahma-mūrtaye — the personal form of the Absolute Truth.

kam — what; vṛṇe — shall I choose; nu — indeed; param — other; bhūman — O all-pervading lord; varam — benediction; tvat — from you; vara-darśanāt — the sight of whom is itself the highest benediction; yat — of whom; darśanāt — from the seeing; pūrṇa-kāmaḥ — full in all desires; satya-kāmaḥ — able to achieve anything desired; pumān — a person; bhavet — becomes.

varam — benediction; ekam — one; vṛṇe — I request; atha api — nevertheless; pūrṇāt — from him who is completely full; kāma-abhivarṣaṇāt — who showers down the fulfillment of desires; bhagavati — for the Supreme Personality of Godhead; acyutām — infallible; bhaktim — devotional service; tat-pareṣu — for those who are dedicated to Him; tathā — and also; tvayi — for yourself.

sūtaḥ uvāca — Sūta Gosvāmī said; iti — in these words; arcitaḥ — worshiped; abhiṣṭutaḥ — glorified; ca — and; muninā — by the sage; su-uktayā — well-spoken; girā — with words; tam — to him; āha — spoke; bhagavān śarvaḥ — Lord Śiva; śarvayā — by his consort, Śarvā; ca — and; abhinanditaḥ — encouraged.

kāmaḥ — desire; mahā-ṛṣe — O great sage; sarvaḥ — all; ayam — this; bhakti-mān — full of devotion; tvam — you; adhokṣaje — for the transcendental Personality of Godhead; ā-kalpa-antāt — up until the end of the day of Brahmā; yaśaḥ — fame; puṇyam — pious; ajara-amaratā — freedom from old age and death; tathā — also.

jñānam — knowledge; trai-kālikam — of all three phases of time (past, present and future); brahman — O brāhmaṇa; vijñānam — transcendental realization; ca — also; virakti-mat — including renunciation; brahma-varcasvinaḥ — of him who is endowed with brahminical potency; bhūyāt — let there be; purāṇa-ācāryatā — the status of being a teacher of the Purāṇas; astu — may there be; te — of you.

sūtaḥ uvāca — Sūta Gosvāmī said; evam — in this way; varān — benedictions; saḥ — he; munaye — to the sage; dattvā — giving; agāt — went; tri-akṣaḥ — he who has three eyes; īśvaraḥ — Lord Śiva; devyai — to goddess Pārvatī; tat-karma — the activities of Mārkaṇḍeya; kathayan — recounting; anubhūtam — what was experienced; purā — before; amunā — by him, Mārkaṇḍeya.

saḥ — he, Mārkaṇḍeya; api — indeed; avāpta — having achieved; mahā-yoga — of the topmost perfection of yoga; mahimā — the glories; bhārgava-uttamaḥ — the best descendant of Bhṛgu; vicarati — is traveling about; adhunā api — even today; addhā — directly; harau — for Lord Hari; eka-antatām — the platform of exclusive devotion; gataḥ — having attained.

anuvarṇitam — described; etat — this; te — to you; mārkaṇḍeyasya — by Mārkaṇḍeya; dhī-mataḥ — the intelligent; anubhūtam — experienced; bhagavataḥ — of the Personality of Godhead; māyā-vaibhavam — the opulence of the illusory energy; adbhutam — amazing.

etat — this; kecit — some persons; avidvāṁsaḥ — who are not learned; māyā-saṁsṛtiḥ — the illusory creation; ātmanaḥ — of the Supreme Soul; anādi — from time immemorial; āvartitam — repeating; nṝṇām — of conditioned living beings; kādācitkam — unprecedented; pracakṣate — they say.

yaḥ — who; evam — thus; etat — this; bhṛgu-varya — O best of the descendants of Bhṛgu (Śaunaka); varṇitam — described; ratha-aṅga-pāṇeḥ — of Lord Śrī Hari, who carries a chariot wheel in His hand; anubhāva — with the potency; bhāvitam — infused; saṁśrāvayet — causes anyone to hear; saṁśṛṇuyāt — himself hears; u — or; tau — they; ubhau — both; tayoḥ — of them; na — not; karma-āśaya — based on the mentality of fruitive work; saṁsṛtiḥ — the cycle of material life; bhavet — there is.