Shloka 38

Devanagari script

बलं मे पश्य मायाया: स्त्रीमय्या जयिनो दिशाम् । या करोति पदाक्रान्तान्भ्रूविजृम्भेण केवलम् ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

balaṁ me paśya māyāyāḥ strī-mayyā jayino diśām yā karoti padākrāntān bhrūvi-jṛmbheṇa kevalam

Translation

Behold the mighty power of My māyā in the form of woman: by the mere play of her eyebrows she can hold even the world’s greatest conquerors beneath her sway.

Synonyms

• बलम्: power
• बलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• मे: my
• मे: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पश्य: see
• पश्य: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मायायाः: of illusion
• मायायाः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• स्त्री-मय्या: consisting of women
• स्त्री-मय्या: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + मय (तद्धित-प्रातिपदिक; -मय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘स्त्रीभिः मय्या’ = consisting of women); विशेषणम् (of मायाया:)

• जयिनः: of the conquerors
• जयिनः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जयिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• दिशाम्: of the directions
• दिशाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• या: which (she)
• या: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• करोति: makes/does
• करोति: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• पद-आक्रान्तान्: those trampled underfoot
• पद-आक्रान्तान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक) + आक्रान्त (कृदन्त; √क्रम् धातु, क्त with उपसर्ग आ-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘पदेन आक्रान्तान्’ = trodden down by the foot)

• भ्रू-वि-जृम्भेण: by a mere arching of the eyebrows
• भ्रू-वि-जृम्भेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रू (प्रातिपदिक) + वि + जृम्भ (प्रातिपदिक/भाव; from √जृम्भ् ‘to yawn/open’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘भ्रुवोः विजृम्भः’ = raising/arching of the eyebrows)

• केवलम्: only/merely
• केवलम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन प्रयुक्तम्; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial use: ‘only/merely’)

Purport

There are many instances in the history of the world of a great conqueror’s being captivated by the charms of a Cleopatra. One has to study the captivating potency of woman, and man’s attraction for that potency. From what source was this generated? According to Vedānta-sūtra, we can understand that everything is generated from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is enunciated there, janmādy asya yataḥ. This means that the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or the Supreme Person, Brahman, the Absolute Truth, is the source from whom everything emanates. The captivating power of woman, and man’s susceptibility to such attraction, must also exist in the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the spiritual world and must be represented in the transcendental pastimes of the Lord.

Characters & Entities

• Devahūti
• Kapila
• Māyā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the power of Māyā in Canto 3?

This verse states that the Lord’s Māyā is so powerful that even those who conquer the world’s directions can be subdued—symbolically, by mere attraction and subtle gestures.

Why does Devahūti mention “Māyā as woman” to Lord Kapila?

Devahūti is acknowledging how embodied life becomes bound through attraction and desire, and she appeals to Kapila’s teachings to rise beyond Māyā through spiritual knowledge and devotion.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Recognize how subtle temptations and distractions can overpower discipline; cultivate vigilance, regulated senses, and bhakti-centered habits to remain steady on the spiritual path.