Shloka 9
Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī
Viṣṇu’s Yoga-māyā and the Limits of Ascetic Power
त्वां ब्रह्म केचिदवयन्त्युत धर्ममेकेएके परं सदसतो: पुरुषं परेशम् । अन्येऽवयन्ति नवशक्तियुतं परं त्वांकेचिन्महापुरुषमव्ययमात्मतन्त्रम् ॥ ९ ॥
tvāṁ brahma kecid avayanty uta dharmam eke eke paraṁ sad-asatoḥ puruṣaṁ pareśam anye ’vayanti nava-śakti-yutaṁ paraṁ tvāṁ kecin mahā-puruṣam avyayam ātma-tantram
O Herr, manche Vedāntisten betrachten Dich als das unpersönliche Brahman; die Mīmāṁsakas sehen Dich als den Dharma selbst. Die Sāṅkhya‑Denker erkennen Dich als die transzendente Person, jenseits von prakṛti und puruṣa, als Lenker selbst der Devas. Die Pañcarātra‑Bhaktas verehren Dich als den Höchsten, ausgestattet mit neun Kräften, und die Yogis Patañjalis schauen Dich als die höchste, unabhängige, unvergängliche Persönlichkeit Gottes, ohne Ebenbürtigen oder Höheren.
FAQs
This verse explains that seekers perceive the same Supreme Truth in different ways—some as impersonal Brahman, others as dharma, and others as the Supreme Person (Puruṣa, Pareśa) who transcends both cause and effect.
After being bewildered by Viṣṇu’s Mohinī form, Lord Śiva offers prayers acknowledging that the Lord is understood variously, yet remains the one independent Supreme Reality beyond all limited conceptions.
Practice humility in spiritual learning: honor sincere approaches while deepening devotion to the Supreme Lord, recognizing that partial realizations can mature into fuller understanding through bhakti.