Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 19
Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī
Viṣṇu’s Yoga-māyā and the Limits of Ascetic Power
आवर्तनोद्वर्तनकम्पितस्तन-प्रकृष्टहारोरुभरै: पदे पदे । प्रभज्यमानामिव मध्यतश्चलत्-पदप्रवालं नयतीं ततस्तत: ॥ १९ ॥
āvartanodvartana-kampita-stana- prakṛṣṭa-hāroru-bharaiḥ pade pade prabhajyamānām iva madhyataś calat- pada-pravālaṁ nayatīṁ tatas tataḥ
Because the ball was falling down and bouncing up, as She played with it Her breasts trembled, and because of the weight of those breasts and Her heavy flower garlands, Her waist appeared to be all but breaking at every step, as Her two soft feet, which were reddish like coral, moved here and there.
FAQs
This verse poetically describes Mohinī’s captivating movements—Her swaying waist, coral-like feet, and graceful gait—showing how divine māyā can bewilder even great personalities.
In this narrative, Śiva witnesses the Lord’s extraordinary māyā through Mohinī-mūrti; the Lord’s pastime demonstrates that even exalted beings can be affected by illusion when the Supreme wills it.
The verse highlights how sense-attraction can pull the mind “from place to place”; devotees apply this by cultivating vigilance, regulated senses, and remembrance of the Supreme to avoid being led by temptation.