Shloka 21

Devanagari script

क्षोभिणी मोहिनी नित्यं योगिनां हृदि संस्थिता एकानेकस्थिता लोके इन्दीवरनिभेक्षणा

Transliteration

kṣobhiṇī mohinī nityaṃ yogināṃ hṛdi saṃsthitā ekānekasthitā loke indīvaranibhekṣaṇā

Translation

Sie ist die stets gegenwärtige Erregerin und Betörerin, im Herzen der Yogins wohnend. Obwohl eine, weilt sie als viele in der Welt, mit Augen wie der blaue Lotos—Śivas Śakti, die verhüllt und enthüllt gemäß dem Spiel des Pati über das als paśu gebundene Bewusstsein.

Word by Word

• क्षोभिणी: the agitator, the one who causes inner stirring

• मोहिनी: the deluder/enchantress (Māyā-Śakti)

• नित्यम्: always, eternally

• योगिनाम्: of yogins

• हृदि: in the heart

• संस्थिता: established, abiding

• एका: one

• अनेकस्थिता: existing as many, manifoldly present

• लोके: in the world

• इन्दीवर-निभ-ईक्षणा: having eyes like the blue lotus

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purva-Bhaga teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya, with an implied doctrinal description of Shakti/Maya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Yogins
• Maya

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It shifts Linga-upasana from mere outer ritual to inner worship: the same Shakti that manifests the world also operates in the heart, so the devotee approaches the Linga as Pati with Shakti—master of both revelation and veiling.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva-tattva is implied as Pati, the sovereign consciousness, whose inseparable Shakti functions as Mohini (veiling) and Kshobhini (stirring). The yogin’s experience of bondage or awakening occurs under this divine governance, not by random mental fluctuation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Heart-centered yogic discernment (viveka) is emphasized: observing the inner ‘stirring and delusion’ as Shakti’s play and turning the mind toward Shiva as Pati—supporting meditative Linga-dhyana and Pashupata-oriented inner restraint.