Shloka 21

शिवमायाप्रभाववर्णनम्

Description of the Power/Effects of Śiva’s Māyā

Devanagari script

चण्डरश्मिस्तु मार्तण्डो मोहितश्शिवमायया । कामाकुलो बभूवाशु दृष्ट्वाश्वीं हयरूपधृक्

Transliteration

caṇḍaraśmistu mārtaṇḍo mohitaśśivamāyayā | kāmākulo babhūvāśu dṛṣṭvāśvīṃ hayarūpadhṛk

Translation

ಉಗ್ರ ಕಿರಣಗಳ ಮಾರ್ತಂಡ (ಸೂರ್ಯ) ಕೂಡ ಶಿವಮಾಯೆಯಿಂದ ಮೋಹಿತನಾದನು. ಅಶ್ವಿಯನ್ನು ಕಂಡ ತಕ್ಷಣ ಕಾಮಾಕುಲನಾಗಿ ಹಯರೂಪವನ್ನು ಧರಿಸಿದನು।

Word by Word

चण्ड-रश्मिःthe fierce-rayed one

तुindeed/but

मार्तण्डःthe Sun (Mārtaṇḍa)

मोहितःdeluded

शिवमाययाby Śiva’s māyā

कामाकुलःagitated by desire

बभूवbecame

आशुquickly

दृष्ट्वाhaving seen

अश्वीम्a mare

हय-रूप-धृक्one who assumed a horse-form

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Ishana

Characters & Entities

Shiva

Martanda (Surya)

FAQs

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

It illustrates Śiva as Pati (the Lord) whose māyā can veil even powerful devas, showing how kāma becomes a binding pasha (fetters) that pulls the jīva toward lower, instinct-driven states unless guided by Śiva-jñāna and grace.

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

By portraying Śiva’s sovereign control over māyā and desire, the verse supports Saguna worship (Linga/Śiva) as a practical refuge: devotion and surrender to Śiva help the devotee transcend kāma and regain inner steadiness (śama) and purity (śuddhi).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A key takeaway is to counter desire with Śiva-upāsanā: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with bhasma/Tripuṇḍra and disciplined sense-restraint, cultivating vairāgya and remembrance of Śiva as the controller of māyā.