Shloka 6

शिवमायाप्रभाववर्णनम्

Description of the Power/Effects of Śiva’s Māyā

Devanagari script

महिम्ना येन शंभोस्तु येये लोके विमोहिताः । मायया ज्ञानमाहृत्य नानालीलाविहारिणः

Transliteration

mahimnā yena śaṃbhostu yeye loke vimohitāḥ | māyayā jñānamāhṛtya nānālīlāvihāriṇaḥ

Translation

Pela própria grandeza de Śambhu, os seres deste mundo ficam iludidos: por Sua Māyā, o conhecimento verdadeiro lhes é arrebatado, e eles vagueiam, brincando em incontáveis e variadas līlās mundanas.

Word by Word

महिम्नाby (his) greatness

येनby which

शंभोःof Śambhu (Śiva)

तुindeed

येthose who

ये(those) who

लोकेin the world

विमोहिताःdeluded

माययाby māyā/illusion

ज्ञानम्knowledge

आहृत्यhaving taken away

नानालीलाविहारिणःthose who sport in various divine plays

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that worldly delusion is not merely personal weakness but arises under Śiva’s Māyā (the veiling power), which obscures liberating knowledge; freedom comes by Śiva’s grace and right discernment.

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

Since Māyā diverts the mind into ‘many plays,’ Saguna worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—gathers attention back to Śiva, purifies the pashu (bound soul), and restores jñāna leading toward realization of the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Linga-dhyāna to counter distraction and reawaken true knowledge; simple Śiva-pūjā with purity and restraint supports this.