Shloka 23

शिवमायाप्रभाववर्णनम्

Description of the Power/Effects of Śiva’s Māyā

Devanagari script

पूर्वं तु मित्रावरुणौ घोरे तपसि संस्थितौ । मोहितौ तावपि मुनी शिवमायाविमोहितौ

Transliteration

pūrvaṃ tu mitrāvaruṇau ghore tapasi saṃsthitau | mohitau tāvapi munī śivamāyāvimohitau

Translation

En tiempos antiguos, Mitra y Varuṇa permanecían firmes en austeridades terribles; y, sin embargo, aun esos dos sabios fueron engañados, quedando confundidos por la Māyā de Śiva.

Word by Word

• पूर्वम्: formerly/earlier
• पूर्वम्: Desha-Kala (देश-काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time; accusative used adverbially)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• मित्र-वरुणौ: Mitra and Varuṇa
• मित्र-वरुणौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (copulative), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Dual)

• घोरे: in terrible (austere)
• घोरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; ‘तपसि’ विशेषण

• तपसि: in austerity/penance
• तपसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• संस्थितौ: were engaged/standing
• संस्थितौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘स्थित’ = stationed/engaged

• मोहितौ: were deluded
• मोहितौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• मुनी: the two sages
• मुनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• शिव-माया-विमोहितौ: thoroughly deluded by Śiva’s māyā
• शिव-माया-विमोहितौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + माया (प्रातिपदिक) + वि + मुह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (instrumental sense: ‘शिवस्य मायया विमोहितौ’), भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mitra
• Varuna

FAQs

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

It teaches that even intense tapas cannot by itself conquer bondage (pāśa); delusion can persist until Śiva, the Pati, grants right knowledge and grace, revealing the limits of ego-based ascetic power.

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

By stressing Śiva’s sovereign māyā, the verse supports approaching Saguna Śiva—often through Liṅga worship—as a compassionate, accessible focus for devotion that purifies the mind and makes one fit for Śiva’s liberating grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Combine austerity with Śiva-bhakti: steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplative surrender to Śiva, so that tapas becomes a means for humility and clarity rather than a cause of subtle pride.