Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 23
Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī
Viṣṇu’s Yoga-māyā and the Limits of Ascetic Power
तस्या: कराग्रात् स तु कन्दुको यदागतो विदूरं तमनुव्रजत्स्त्रिया: । वास: ससूत्रं लघु मारुतोऽहरद्भवस्य देवस्य किलानुपश्यत: ॥ २३ ॥
tasyāḥ karāgrāt sa tu kanduko yadā gato vidūraṁ tam anuvrajat-striyāḥ vāsaḥ sasūtraṁ laghu māruto ’harad bhavasya devasya kilānupaśyataḥ
Когда мяч выскочил из её руки и упал вдали, женщина пошла за ним. Но на глазах у бога Бхавы (Шивы) лёгкий ветерок внезапно унёс её тонкое одеяние и поясной шнур.
FAQs
This verse shows how Mohinī’s captivating play, aided even by a gentle breeze, intensified the enchantment—illustrating the astonishing potency of the Lord’s māyā.
Śukadeva narrates that Śiva, desiring to witness Viṣṇu’s Mohinī form, observes Her movements; the scene underscores how even great beings can be tested by the Lord’s divine arrangement.
Recognize how quickly the mind can be pulled by sensory triggers; cultivate vigilance, humble dependence on God, and disciplined practices (japa, sādhana, restraint) to stay steady.