Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 41
वृन्दायाः दुष्स्वप्न-दर्शनं तथा पातिव्रत्य-भङ्गोपक्रमः / Vṛndā’s Ominous Dreams and the Prelude to the Breach of Chastity
वृन्दोवाच । धिक् तदेवं हरे शीलं परदाराभिगामिनः । ज्ञातोऽसि त्वं मया सम्यङ्मायी प्रत्यक्षतापसः
vṛndovāca | dhik tadevaṃ hare śīlaṃ paradārābhigāminaḥ | jñāto'si tvaṃ mayā samyaṅmāyī pratyakṣatāpasaḥ
Vṛndā said: “Fie upon such conduct of yours, O Hari—one who approaches another’s wife! Now I have recognized you clearly: you are a deceptive wielder of māyā, appearing outwardly as an ascetic before my very eyes.”
Vṛndā
Tattva Level: pasha
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse highlights discernment (viveka) against māyā: even a convincing ascetic appearance can conceal deception, and dharma is measured by conduct, not costume—an ethical lens that supports Shaiva Siddhānta’s emphasis on purity and right action as aids to grace.
By contrasting outer disguise with inner truth, it implicitly points devotees toward Saguna Shiva as the trustworthy refuge: Linga-worship trains the mind to seek the Real (Pati/Śiva) beyond shifting appearances and moral confusion produced by māyā.
A practical takeaway is daily self-examination with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and maintaining śauca (purity) and dhārmic boundaries; these disciplines help the devotee detect māyā and stabilize the mind in Śiva-bhakti.