Shloka 38

शिवमायाप्रभाववर्णनम्

Description of the Power/Effects of Śiva’s Māyā

Devanagari script

बृहस्पतिर्मुनिवरो मोहितश्शिवमायया । भ्रातृपत्न्या वशी रेमे भरद्वाजस्ततोऽभवत्

Transliteration

bṛhaspatirmunivaro mohitaśśivamāyayā | bhrātṛpatnyā vaśī reme bharadvājastato'bhavat

Translation

முனிவரர் பிருஹஸ்பதி சிவமாயையால் மயங்கி, சகோதரனின் மனைவியின் வசப்பட்டு அவளுடன் சேர்ந்தார்; அந்தச் சேர்க்கையால் பரத்வாஜர் பிறந்தார்.

Word by Word

• बृहस्पतिः: Bṛhaspati
• बृहस्पतिः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मुनिवरः: best of sages
• मुनिवरः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मुनीनां वरः)

• मोहितः: deluded
• मोहितः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुह् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शिवमायया: by Śiva’s māyā
• शिवमायया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवमाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य माया)

• भ्रातृपत्‍न्या: with (his) brother’s wife
• भ्रातृपत्‍न्या: करण/सह (Instrument/association; ‘with/through’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृपत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भ्रातुः पत्नी)

• वशी: subjugated, under control
• वशी: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• रेमे: enjoyed, sported
• रेमे: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• भरद्वाजः: Bharadvāja
• भरद्वाजः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भरद्वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: सम्बन्ध/काल-देश (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverb)

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brihaspati
• Bharadvaja

FAQs

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

It highlights that even exalted intellect and ascetic status can be veiled by Śiva’s Māyā; liberation in Shaiva Siddhānta comes by Śiva’s grace and disciplined mastery over desire, not by pride in learning or position.

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

By showing Māyā as Śiva’s power, the verse points devotees toward Saguna Śiva worship (including Liṅga-pūjā) as a practical refuge—through devotion and surrender one seeks Śiva’s anugraha (grace) to transcend delusion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A key takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a vow of self-restraint, supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders to overcome moha (delusion) and stabilize the mind.