Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 41
सती-शिवचरित्रप्रसङ्गः / The Account of Satī and Śiva’s Divine Conduct
Prelude to Detailed Narrative
श्रुत्वापीत्थं वचश्शम्भोर्न विशश्वास तन्मनः । शिवमाया बलवती सैव त्रैलोक्यमोहिनी
śrutvāpītthaṃ vacaśśambhorna viśaśvāsa tanmanaḥ | śivamāyā balavatī saiva trailokyamohinī
Même après avoir entendu de telles paroles de Śambhu (Śiva), son esprit n’y accorda pas foi. Car la Māyā de Śiva est d’une puissance extrême : c’est elle qui égare les trois mondes.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Īśāna
FAQs
It highlights the veiling power of Śiva’s Māyā: even when truth is spoken by Śiva Himself, the bound mind (paśu) can fail to trust it due to the fetter (pāśa) of delusion—showing the need for grace, devotion, and right discernment.
By showing how easily the mind is overpowered by Māyā, the verse supports the need for steady Saguna worship—such as Linga-bhakti—through which attention is anchored, impurities are reduced, and receptivity to Śiva’s truth and grace increases.
Cultivate unwavering bhakti and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to counter Māyā’s distraction; regular worship with purity and focused remembrance is the practical takeaway implied by the verse.