Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 27
Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī
Viṣṇu’s Yoga-māyā and the Limits of Ascetic Power
तामन्वगच्छद् भगवान् भव: प्रमुषितेन्द्रिय: । कामस्य च वशं नीत: करेणुमिव यूथप: ॥ २७ ॥
tām anvagacchad bhagavān bhavaḥ pramuṣitendriyaḥ kāmasya ca vaśaṁ nītaḥ kareṇum iva yūthapaḥ
Ses sens étant troublés, le Seigneur Bhava (Śiva), soumis au désir, se mit à la suivre, tel un éléphant en rut poursuivant une éléphante.
FAQs
This verse shows that when the Lord’s illusory potency (māyā) acts, even Lord Śiva can become bewildered and temporarily brought under the sway of desire—highlighting the need for humility and vigilance in self-control.
Mohinī-mūrti is Viṣṇu’s enchanting form; by divine arrangement, Śiva witnessed that beauty and became momentarily captivated, demonstrating the extraordinary power of the Lord’s māyā and the instructive nature of this līlā.
Guard the senses, avoid triggers that inflame desire, and cultivate devotion and remembrance of the Lord—because even advanced people can be shaken when temptation and illusion combine.