Shloka 51
Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti
Request for the Account of Umā
राजोवाच । का सा देवी महामाया या च मोहयतेऽखिलान् । कथं जाता च सा देवी कृपया वद मे मुने
rājovāca | kā sā devī mahāmāyā yā ca mohayate'khilān | kathaṃ jātā ca sā devī kṛpayā vada me mune
The King said: “Who is that Goddess, the Great Māyā, who deludes all beings? And how was that Goddess born? O sage, out of compassion, please tell me.”
The King (Rājā)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shakti Form: Durgā
Role: teaching
FAQs
It frames a key Shaiva question: how the soul (paśu) becomes bound through Māyā (a form of pāśa) and seeks clarity from the guru-like sage about the Goddess who causes delusion.
By identifying delusion as Māyā, the verse implicitly points to Saguna Shiva worship—such as devotion to the Śiva-liṅga—as a purifying means to transcend Māyā and realize Śiva as Pati, the liberator.
The practical takeaway is inquiry joined with devotion: approach a competent teacher, and support that inner questioning with Śiva-upāsanā like japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to weaken Māyā’s veiling power.