Shloka 45
उच्चैःश्रवसः वर्णविपणः तथा नागशापः
Uccaiḥśravas Color-Wager and the Nāga Curse
ततो नारायणो मायां मोहिनीं समुपाश्रित: । स्त्रीरूपमद्भुतं कृत्वा दानवानभिसंश्रित:,उसी समय भगवान् विष्णुने मोहिनी मायाका आश्रय ले मनोहारिणी स्त्रीका अद्भुत रूप बनाकर, दानवोंके पास पदार्पण किया
tato nārāyaṇo māyāṃ mohinīṃ samupāśritaḥ | strīrūpam adbhutaṃ kṛtvā dānavān abhi-saṃśritaḥ ||
Dann nahm Nārāyaṇa Zuflucht zur betörenden Macht der Illusion namens Mohinī. Er nahm eine wunderbare, fesselnde Frauengestalt an und trat zu den Dānavas.
शौनक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring epic ethic: when direct confrontation is not the best means to uphold dharma, divine intelligence may employ māyā (strategic appearance) to restrain adharma. The moral emphasis is on protecting cosmic order and preventing harm, not on deception as a personal vice.
Śaunaka describes Nārāyaṇa taking on the Mohinī illusion—assuming an extraordinary female form—and approaching the Dānavas. This sets up a scene where the Dānavas are to be influenced or diverted through enchantment and strategy.