Shloka 17

शिवमायाप्रभाववर्णनम्

Description of the Power/Effects of Śiva’s Māyā

Devanagari script

शिवमायाप्रभावेणाभूद्धरिः काममोहितः । परस्त्रीधर्षणं चक्रे बहुवारं मुनीश्वर

Transliteration

śivamāyāprabhāveṇābhūddhariḥ kāmamohitaḥ | parastrīdharṣaṇaṃ cakre bahuvāraṃ munīśvara

Translation

ಓ ಮುನೀಶ್ವರ, ಶಿವಮಾಯೆಯ ಪ್ರಭಾವದಿಂದ ಹರಿ (ವಿಷ್ಣು) ಕಾಮಮೋಹಿತನಾಗಿ ಪರಸ್ತ್ರೀಯ ಮೇಲೆ ದೌರ್ಜನ್ಯ/ಅಪಮಾನವನ್ನು ಅನೇಕ ಬಾರಿ ಮಾಡಿದನು.

Word by Word

• शिवमाया-प्रभावेण: by the power/effect of Shiva's māyā
• शिवमाया-प्रभावेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-माया-प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य माया → शिवमाया; शिवमायायाः प्रभावः → शिवमायाप्रभाव)

• अभूत्: became/was
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• हरिः: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• काम-मोहितः: deluded by desire
• काम-मोहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम-मोहित (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कामेन मोहितः)

• पर-स्त्री-धर्षणम्: violation of another's wife
• पर-स्त्री-धर्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर-स्त्री-धर्षण (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (परस्याः स्त्रियाः धर्षणम्)

• चक्रे: did/committed
• चक्रे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• बहु-वारम्: many times
• बहु-वारम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहु-वार (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण); अव्ययीभावः—बहूनि वाराणि इति (many times)

• मुनीश्वर: O lord of sages
• मुनीश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मुनीनां ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu (Hari)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It underscores that kāma (desire) is a powerful pasha (bondage) and that even exalted beings can be veiled by Śiva’s māyā; liberation requires grace and disciplined dharma rather than reliance on status or power.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By attributing the turning of events to Śiva’s māyā, the verse points to Śiva as the supreme Pati (Lord) whose saguna worship—especially through the Liṅga—centers the devotee in restraint, purity, and surrender beyond sensory delusion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with vrata-like self-restraint and purification (such as Tripuṇḍra/bhasma and regular Śiva-pūjā), specifically to subdue kāma and stabilize the mind.