Shloka 34
Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī
Viṣṇu’s Yoga-māyā and the Limits of Ascetic Power
सरित्सर:सु शैलेषु वनेषूपवनेषु च । यत्र क्व चासन्नृषयस्तत्र सन्निहितो हर: ॥ ३४ ॥
sarit-saraḥsu śaileṣu vaneṣūpavaneṣu ca yatra kva cāsann ṛṣayas tatra sannihito haraḥ
മോഹിനിയെ പിന്തുടർന്ന് ഭഗവാൻ ശിവൻ എല്ലായിടത്തും പോയി—നദികളുടെയും തടാകങ്ങളുടെയും തീരങ്ങളിൽ, പർവതങ്ങളോടടുത്ത്, വനങ്ങളിലും ഉപവനങ്ങളിലും; എവിടെയെവിടെ മഹർഷിമാർ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നുവോ അവിടെയവിടെ ഹരൻ (ശിവൻ) സന്നിഹിതനായി।
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura remarks that Mohinī-mūrti dragged Lord Śiva to so many places, especially to where the great sages lived, to instruct the sages that their Lord Śiva had become mad for a beautiful woman. Thus although they were all great sages and saintly persons, they should not think themselves free, but should remain extremely cautious about beautiful women. No one should think himself liberated in the presence of a beautiful woman. The śāstras enjoin:
FAQs
This verse states that wherever sages reside—whether by rivers, lakes, mountains, forests, or groves—Lord Hara (Śiva) is also present there.
He emphasizes that sanctity is connected to saintly presence; wherever ṛṣis are situated, the Lord’s devotee Śiva is also near, making such places spiritually potent.
Seek the company of genuine sādhus and devotee communities; spiritual progress is nourished where saintly persons and devotional atmosphere are present.