Shloka 9
शिवशिवयोर्जगत्पितृमातृत्व-प्रतिपादनं तथा मेनायाः विमोहः (Śiva–Śivā as Cosmic Father and Mother; Menā’s Delusion and the Sages’ Intervention)
अहं च ज्ञानविभ्रष्टो जातोहं सत्यमीर्य्यते । दातुं सुतां महेशाय नेच्छामि भिक्षुरूपिणे । ब्रह्मोवाचैत्युक्त्वा शैलराजस्तु शिवमायाविमोहितः । तूष्णीं बभूव तत्रस्थो मुनीनां मध्यतो मुने
ahaṃ ca jñānavibhraṣṭo jātohaṃ satyamīryyate | dātuṃ sutāṃ maheśāya necchāmi bhikṣurūpiṇe | brahmovācaityuktvā śailarājastu śivamāyāvimohitaḥ | tūṣṇīṃ babhūva tatrastho munīnāṃ madhyato mune
«Yo también he quedado con el discernimiento confundido—en verdad así es. No deseo entregar a mi hija a Maheśa mientras Él esté en la apariencia de un mendigo.» Dijo Brahmā: Tras hablar así, el señor de las montañas—engañado por la māyā de Śiva—permaneció allí, en medio de los sabios, oh muni, y guardó silencio.
Brahma
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It shows how Śiva’s māyā can veil even noble judgment, and how worldly criteria (status, appearance) can obstruct recognition of the Supreme Pati; the devotee is guided toward surrender and right discernment rather than external evaluation.
Śiva appears in a humble, saguna (perceivable) guise to test devotion and ego; similarly, Linga-worship trains the mind to see the Supreme beyond form and social markers, honoring Śiva as Pati regardless of outward appearance.
A practical takeaway is cultivating humility and steadiness through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and simple Śiva-pūjā (bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa with devotion), so discernment is not shaken by māyā and appearances.