Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 32
Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī
Viṣṇu’s Yoga-māyā and the Limits of Ascetic Power
तस्यानुधावतो रेतश्चस्कन्दामोघरेतस: । शुष्मिणो यूथपस्येव वासितामनुधावत: ॥ ३२ ॥
tasyānudhāvato retaś caskandāmogha-retasaḥ śuṣmiṇo yūthapasyeva vāsitām anudhāvataḥ
De même qu’un éléphant mâle en rut suit une éléphante féconde, le puissant Śiva poursuivit la belle femme, et sa semence —jamais vaine— se répandit.
FAQs
In Canto 8, Chapter 12, Śukadeva describes how Śiva, seeing Viṣṇu’s Mohinī form, became momentarily overpowered by desire and ran after Her, illustrating the extraordinary power of the Lord’s māyā and līlā.
The narration emphasizes that even the greatest beings can be bewildered by the Lord’s illusory potency when the Supreme enacts His līlā, thereby establishing Viṣṇu’s supremacy and teaching vigilance against lust.
It teaches humility and caution: one should not presume immunity to temptation, but instead strengthen sādhana—regulated life, prayer, good association, and remembrance of the Lord—to keep the mind steady.