Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 12.10.11-13
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesLord Śiva Appears Within the Heart
“Śrī Mārkaṇḍeya saw Lord Śiva suddenly appear within his heart. Lord Śiva’s golden hair resembled lightning, and he had three eyes, ten arms and a tall body that shone like the rising sun. He wore a tiger skin, and he carried a trident, a bow, arrows, a sword and a shield, along with prayer beads, a ḍamaru drum, a skull and an ax. Astonished, the sage came out of his trance and thought, “Who is this, and where has he come from?””
What the purport teaches
- Mārkaṇḍeya saw Lord Śiva suddenly appear within his heart. His tall body shone like the rising sun, and his golden hair resembled lightning.
- Lord Śiva had three eyes and ten arms. He wore a tiger skin and carried weapons, prayer beads, a ḍamaru drum, a skull and an ax.
- Astonished by this appearance, the sage came out of his trance. He wondered who this personality was and where he had come from.
Try this today
Read the description slowly today, pausing to recall three details of Lord Śiva’s appearance.
Ask yourself
What stands out to you about Mārkaṇḍeya’s astonishment?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.