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
Quand la balle jaillit de sa main et tomba au loin, la femme se mit à la suivre. Mais, sous le regard du dieu Bhava (Śiva), une brise légère emporta soudain son vêtement fin et le cordon de sa taille.
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.