Shloka 51
Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti
Request for the Account of Umā
राजोवाच । का सा देवी महामाया या च मोहयतेऽखिलान् । कथं जाता च सा देवी कृपया वद मे मुने
rājovāca | kā sā devī mahāmāyā yā ca mohayate'khilān | kathaṃ jātā ca sā devī kṛpayā vada me mune
રાજાએ કહ્યું— જે મહામાયા દેવી સર્વને મોહમાં નાખે છે, તે કોણ છે? અને તે દેવી કેવી રીતે જન્મી? હે મુનિ, કૃપા કરીને મને કહો।
The King (Rājā)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shakti Form: Durgā
Role: teaching
FAQs
It frames a key Shaiva question: how the soul (paśu) becomes bound through Māyā (a form of pāśa) and seeks clarity from the guru-like sage about the Goddess who causes delusion.
By identifying delusion as Māyā, the verse implicitly points to Saguna Shiva worship—such as devotion to the Śiva-liṅga—as a purifying means to transcend Māyā and realize Śiva as Pati, the liberator.
The practical takeaway is inquiry joined with devotion: approach a competent teacher, and support that inner questioning with Śiva-upāsanā like japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to weaken Māyā’s veiling power.