Shloka 29

हिमालयगृहे नारदस्य आगमनम् तथा विश्वकर्मनिर्मितवैभववर्णनम् — Nārada’s Arrival at Himālaya’s Palace and the Description of Viśvakarman’s Marvels

Devanagari script

विमोहनार्थं सर्वेषां देवानां च विशेषतः । कृता माया चित्रमयी परिहासविकारिणी

Transliteration

vimohanārthaṃ sarveṣāṃ devānāṃ ca viśeṣataḥ | kṛtā māyā citramayī parihāsavikāriṇī

Translation

To bewilder all beings—and most especially the gods—she fashioned a wondrous, many-hued Māyā: a playful power that brings forth sportive transformations.

Word by Word

• विमोहनार्थम्: for the purpose of deluding
• विमोहनार्थम्: Prayojana/Hetu (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमोहन + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विमोहनस्य अर्थः)

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; सर्व-विशेषणम्

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विशेषतः: especially
• विशेषतः: Visheshana (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/विशेषण-अर्थे क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: especially)

• कृता: was made/created
• कृता: Karta-bhava/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘माया’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• माया: illusion, māyā
• माया: Karta/Adheya (कर्ता/आधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चित्रमयी: wondrous/variegated
• चित्रमयी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तद्धितान्त-विशेषणम् (मयट्/मय); ‘चित्रैः मयी’ इति (made of/consisting of wondrous forms)

• परिहासविकारिणी: causing playful transformations
• परिहासविकारिणी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिहास + विकारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (परिहासस्य विकारिणी)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights māyā as a purposeful, divinely-governed power that can bewilder even exalted beings; in Shaiva Siddhanta, liberation arises by turning from such delusion toward Pati (Shiva) through devotion and right knowledge.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Māyā’s play can distract the mind into appearances; worship of Saguna Shiva in the Linga form steadies attention and devotion, helping the devotee move from shifting phenomena to Shiva as the stable refuge and revealer of truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to pierce delusion, supported by Shaiva disciplines like applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and cultivating steady remembrance of Shiva amid changing experiences.