Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 23
Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī
Viṣṇu’s Yoga-māyā and the Limits of Ascetic Power
तस्या: कराग्रात् स तु कन्दुको यदागतो विदूरं तमनुव्रजत्स्त्रिया: । वास: ससूत्रं लघु मारुतोऽहरद्भवस्य देवस्य किलानुपश्यत: ॥ २३ ॥
tasyāḥ karāgrāt sa tu kanduko yadā gato vidūraṁ tam anuvrajat-striyāḥ vāsaḥ sasūtraṁ laghu māruto ’harad bhavasya devasya kilānupaśyataḥ
Cuando la pelota saltó de su mano y cayó a lo lejos, la mujer fue tras ella. Pero, ante la mirada del dios Bhava (Śiva), una brisa ligera arrebató de pronto su fino vestido y el cordón de su cintura.
FAQs
This verse shows how Mohinī’s captivating play, aided even by a gentle breeze, intensified the enchantment—illustrating the astonishing potency of the Lord’s māyā.
Śukadeva narrates that Śiva, desiring to witness Viṣṇu’s Mohinī form, observes Her movements; the scene underscores how even great beings can be tested by the Lord’s divine arrangement.
Recognize how quickly the mind can be pulled by sensory triggers; cultivate vigilance, humble dependence on God, and disciplined practices (japa, sādhana, restraint) to stay steady.