Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 30

Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī

Viṣṇu’s Yoga-māyā and the Limits of Ascetic Power

Devanagari script

सोपगूढा भगवता करिणा करिणी यथा । इतस्तत: प्रसर्पन्ती विप्रकीर्णशिरोरुहा ॥ २९ ॥ आत्मानं मोचयित्वाङ्ग सुरर्षभभुजान्तरात् । प्राद्रवत्सा पृथुश्रोणी माया देवविनिर्मिता ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

sopagūḍhā bhagavatā kariṇā kariṇī yathā itas tataḥ prasarpantī viprakīrṇa-śiroruhā

Translation

王よ、豊かで高い腰をもつその女は、至上主が顕したヨーガ・マーヤーであった。彼女はどうにかシヴァの愛しい抱擁から身をほどき、走り去った。

Synonyms

• आत्मानम्: herself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• मोचयित्वा: having freed (herself)
• मोचयित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु) → मोचयित्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी-प्रयोग; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having released)

• अङ्ग: O dear (addressing)
• अङ्ग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अङ्ग (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; संबोधन/सम्बोधनार्थक निपात (vocative particle)

• सुरर्षभ-भुज-अन्तरात्: from within the arms of the best of the gods
• सुरर्षभ-भुज-अन्तरात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरर्षभ (प्रातिपदिक) + भुज (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/सम्बन्ध-तत्पुरुष समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादानार्थ (from within the arms)

• प्राद्रवत्: ran away
• प्राद्रवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पृथुश्रोणी: broad-hipped
• पृथुश्रोणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृथु (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रोणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (‘पृथ्वी श्रोणी यस्याः’), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• माया: the illusory form
• माया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• देव-विनिर्मिता: created by the Lord
• देव-विनिर्मिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + वि-निर्मा (धातु) → विनिर्मित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘देवेन विनिर्मिता’), भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (Viṣṇu as Mohinī)
• Mohinī-mūrti

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Mohinī-mūrti and divine attraction?

This verse depicts Mohinī being embraced by Bhagavān and then slipping away, illustrating how the Lord’s līlā and māyā can bewilder even exalted beings and stir powerful attraction.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the scene with the elephant analogy?

The elephant-and-mate comparison emphasizes the intensity of the embrace and the overpowering pull of the līlā, making the narrative vivid while highlighting the force of divine illusion.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Recognize how attraction can cloud judgment; cultivate devotion and self-restraint, remembering that only Bhagavān is fully independent and that māyā can unsettle anyone without spiritual grounding.