Shloka 28

शिवमायाप्रभाववर्णनम्

Description of the Power/Effects of Śiva’s Māyā

Devanagari script

च्यवनोऽपि महायोगी मोहितश्शिवमायया । सुकन्यया विजह्रे स कामासक्तो बभूव ह

Transliteration

cyavano'pi mahāyogī mohitaśśivamāyayā | sukanyayā vijahre sa kāmāsakto babhūva ha

Translation

Even Cyavana, though a great yogin, was deluded by Śiva’s Māyā. Sporting with Sukanyā, he indeed became attached to desire.

Word by Word

• च्यवनः: Cyavana
• च्यवनः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: च्यवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: 'also/even')

• महायोगी: the great yogī
• महायोगी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महायोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (महान् योगी)

• मोहितः: deluded
• मोहितः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies च्यवनः)

• शिवमायया: by Śiva’s māyā
• शिवमायया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवमाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य माया)

• सुकन्यया: with Sukanyā
• सुकन्यया: सहकारक/सह (Saha/with; instrumental of accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुकन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (सु + कन्या = good/beautiful maiden)

• विजह्रे: sportively enjoyed
• विजह्रे: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; वि-उपसर्ग

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कामासक्तः: attached to desire
• कामासक्तः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम + आसक्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (कामे आसक्तः)

• बभूव: became
• बभूव: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed/it is said
• ह: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; narrative emphasis)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Cyavana
• Sukanyā

FAQs

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

It teaches that even advanced yogic attainment can be eclipsed by the Lord’s Māyā; therefore, liberation depends on Śiva’s grace (anugraha) and steady vairāgya, not on pride in austerity.

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

By highlighting Śiva as the sovereign of Māyā, it points devotees to take refuge in Saguna Śiva—worship of the Liṅga, mantra, and devotion—as a stabilizing anchor that purifies desire and loosens bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a discipline of restraint, and support it with Śaiva observances like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa to cultivate remembrance and detachment.