Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 26
Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī
Viṣṇu’s Yoga-māyā and the Limits of Ascetic Power
सा तमायान्तमालोक्य विवस्त्रा व्रीडिता भृशम् । निलीयमाना वृक्षेषु हसन्ती नान्वतिष्ठत ॥ २६ ॥
sā tam āyāntam ālokya vivastrā vrīḍitā bhṛśam nilīyamānā vṛkṣeṣu hasantī nānvatiṣṭhata
Die schöne Frau war bereits nackt; als sie sah, wie Śiva auf sie zukam, wurde sie überaus beschämt. Lächelnd verbarg sie sich zwischen den Bäumen und blieb nicht an einem Ort stehen.
FAQs
This verse shows Mohinī-mūrti playfully evading Lord Śiva—hiding among trees and not staying in one place—illustrating how captivating and elusive the Lord’s māyā can appear even to exalted beings.
In the narrative of Canto 8, Chapter 12, Mohinī-mūrti (Viṣṇu’s enchanting form) intensifies Śiva’s bewilderment through playful modesty—laughing, hiding, and moving constantly—thereby demonstrating the Lord’s divine potency and the limits of ordinary control before māyā.
The verse cautions that temptation can be both attractive and unstable—constantly shifting—so one should cultivate vigilance, disciplined senses, and devotion rather than assuming immunity due to position, knowledge, or past spiritual practice.