Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 22
Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī
Viṣṇu’s Yoga-māyā and the Limits of Ascetic Power
तां वीक्ष्य देव इति कन्दुकलीलयेषद्-व्रीडास्फुटस्मितविसृष्टकटाक्षमुष्ट: । स्त्रीप्रेक्षणप्रतिसमीक्षणविह्वलात्मानात्मानमन्तिक उमां स्वगणांश्च वेद ॥ २२ ॥
tāṁ vīkṣya deva iti kanduka-līlayeṣad- vrīḍāsphuṭa-smita-visṛṣṭa-kaṭākṣa-muṣṭaḥ strī-prekṣaṇa-pratisamīkṣaṇa-vihvalātmā nātmānam antika umāṁ sva-gaṇāṁś ca veda
Enquanto o senhor Śiva a observava brincar com a bola, ela às vezes lhe lançava um olhar de soslaio e sorria levemente, por pudor. Nesse jogo de olhares, o coração de Śiva se perturbou: ele esqueceu a si mesmo, esqueceu Umā, sua amada esposa, e até seus companheiros ao lado.
The material bondage of this world is that a beautiful woman can captivate a handsome man and that a handsome man can captivate a beautiful woman. Such are the affairs that began when Lord Śiva observed the beautiful girl playing with the ball. In such activities, the influence of Cupid is very prominent. As both parties move their eyebrows and glance at one another, their lusty desires increase more and more. Such reciprocations of lusty desire took place between Lord Śiva and the beautiful woman, even though Umā and Lord Śiva’s associates were by Lord Śiva’s side. Such is the attraction between man and woman in the material world. Lord Śiva was supposed to be above all this attraction, but he was victimized by the captivating power of Lord Viṣṇu. Ṛṣabhadeva thus explains the nature of lusty attraction:
FAQs
This verse shows how Mohinī’s charm—smile and sidelong glances—can bewilder even Lord Śiva, illustrating the extraordinary potency of the Lord’s māyā and the need for humility and vigilance.
The narrative emphasizes that the Lord’s divine enchantment (Mohinī-mūrti) overwhelmed Śiva through mutual gazing, so intensely that he momentarily lost awareness of himself, Umā, and his attendants.
It teaches that sense-attraction can overpower even the strong; therefore one should avoid tempting situations, guard the eyes and mind, and take shelter of devotion and remembrance of the Lord.