Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 19

Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī

Viṣṇu’s Yoga-māyā and the Limits of Ascetic Power

Devanagari script

आवर्तनोद्वर्तनकम्पितस्तन-प्रकृष्टहारोरुभरै: पदे पदे । प्रभज्यमानामिव मध्यतश्चलत्-पदप्रवालं नयतीं ततस्तत: ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

āvartanodvartana-kampita-stana- prakṛṣṭa-hāroru-bharaiḥ pade pade prabhajyamānām iva madhyataś calat- pada-pravālaṁ nayatīṁ tatas tataḥ

Translation

Weil der Ball fiel und wieder emporprallte, bebten beim Spiel ihre Brüste; und durch deren Gewicht sowie die schweren Blumengirlanden schien ihre Taille bei jedem Schritt fast zu brechen. Ihre zarten, korallenrötlichen Füße bewegten sich hierhin und dorthin.

Synonyms

• āvartana: turning, whirling
• āvartana: Hetu/Kāraṇa (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āvartana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as compound member; nominal stem)

• udvartana: twisting, rolling upward
• udvartana: Hetu/Kāraṇa (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udvartana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (as compound member; nominal stem)

• kampita: shaken, trembling
• kampita: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kamp (कम्प् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying)

• stana: breasts
• stana: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (in compound; breasts)

• prakṛṣṭa: prominent, heavy, drawn tight
• prakṛṣṭa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra√kṛṣ (कृष् धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying hāra/uru-bhara)

• hāra: necklace
• hāra: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (as compound member)

• uru: thighs
• uru: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (usage), तृतीया, बहुवचन (as compound member)

• bharaiḥ: by the weight(s)
• bharaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• pade: in (each) step
• pade: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• pade: at every step
• pade: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति (reduplication)

• prabhajyamānām: as if being broken apart
• prabhajyamānām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra√bhaj (भज् धातु) + śānac (शानच्)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपमा-सम्बन्धे (with iva)

• iva: as if
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (indeclinable of comparison)

• madhyataḥ: from the middle
• madhyataḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: madhya (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस्)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; अपादानार्थे/देशवाचक (from the middle)

• calat: moving, swaying
• calat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cal (चल् धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying pada-pravālam)

• pada: foot
• pada: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, as compound member (stem)

• pravālam: tender shoot; coral-red sprout (foot-like)
• pravālam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• nayatīm: leading, carrying along
• nayatīm: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nī (नी धातु) + śatṛ/śānac (स्त्री)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच् स्त्रीरूप), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भावे/विशेष्य-स्त्री (describing her)

• tataḥ: then/from there
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त; क्रम/देश (from there/then)

• tataḥ: here and there
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति (tatas tataḥ = here and there)

Characters & Entities

• Mohinī-mūrti
• Lord Śiva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Mohinī-mūrti’s enchanting beauty?

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.

Why is Lord Śiva shown being led on by Mohinī in Bhagavatam 8.12?

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.

Practical application of this Mohinī episode in modern life?

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.