Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 31
Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī
Viṣṇu’s Yoga-māyā and the Limits of Ascetic Power
तस्यासौ पदवीं रुद्रो विष्णोरद्भुतकर्मण: । प्रत्यपद्यत कामेन वैरिणेव विनिर्जित: ॥ ३१ ॥
tasyāsau padavīṁ rudro viṣṇor adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ pratyapadyata kāmena vairiṇeva vinirjitaḥ
Comme vaincu par un ennemi sous la forme du désir, Rudra suivit la trace de Viṣṇu, l’Auteur d’actes merveilleux, qui avait pris la forme de Mohinī.
Lord Śiva cannot be victimized by māyā. Therefore it is to be understood that Lord Śiva was being thus harassed by Lord Viṣṇu’s internal potency. Lord Viṣṇu can perform many wonderful activities through His various potencies.
FAQs
This verse states that Lord Śiva pursued the path of Viṣṇu’s Mohinī form and became overpowered by desire, illustrating the astonishing potency of the Lord’s māyā and līlā.
In the narrative of Canto 8, Chapter 12, Viṣṇu manifests Mohinī to demonstrate His wondrous power; even Śiva, though supremely great, is momentarily bewildered by the Lord’s divine arrangement.
The verse warns that desire can overpower even the strong; therefore one should practice vigilance, keep holy association, and direct the mind toward devotion to Viṣṇu to remain steady.