Shloka 25

Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī

Viṣṇu’s Yoga-māyā and the Limits of Ascetic Power

Devanagari script

तयापहृतविज्ञानस्तत्कृतस्मरविह्वल: । भवान्या अपि पश्यन्त्या गतह्रीस्तत्पदं ययौ ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

tayāpahṛta-vijñānas tat-kṛta-smara-vihvalaḥ bhavānyā api paśyantyā gata-hrīs tat-padaṁ yayau

Translation

ఆ స్త్రీ కారణంగా శివుని వివేకం హరించబడెను; ఆమె వల్ల ఆయన కామవిహ్వలుడయ్యెను. భవానీ చూస్తుండగానే లజ్జను విడిచి ఆయన ఆమె వద్దకు వెళ్లెను.

Synonyms

• तया: by her
• तया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental); एकवचन

• अपहृत-विज्ञानः: whose discernment was stolen away
• अपहृत-विज्ञानः: विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप-√हृ (धातु) + विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle) ‘अपहृत’ + षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (whose knowledge is taken away)

• तत्-कृत-स्मर-विह्वलः: agitated by love caused by her
• तत्-कृत-स्मर-विह्वलः: विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ) + स्मर (प्रातिपदिक) + विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘तत्कृत’ (by her caused) + ‘स्मरविह्वल’ (agitated by love)

• भवान्याः: of Bhavānī (Pārvatī)
• भवान्याः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive); एकवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: also/even)

• पश्यन्त्याः: while she was watching
• पश्यन्त्याः: विशेषण (Qualifier in genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति; एकवचन; ‘भवान्याः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• गत-ह्रीः: having lost shame/modesty
• गत-ह्रीः: विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु; क्त) + ह्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्यय ‘गत’ + षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (whose modesty is gone)

• तत्-पदम्: that place/that position (near her)
• तत्-पदम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (that place/that position; i.e., her feet/that spot)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Mohinī-mūrti (Lord Viṣṇu)
• Lord Śiva
• Bhavānī (Pārvatī)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about Mohinī-mūrti and Lord Śiva in Canto 8?

Bhāgavatam describes that Lord Viṣṇu’s Mohinī form could bewilder even Lord Śiva; in this verse Śiva, overcome by desire invoked by her, runs after her despite Pārvatī watching—showing the overwhelming power of divine māyā.

Why did Lord Śiva run after Mohinī even while Pārvatī was watching?

The verse states his vijñāna (discernment) was ‘stolen’ by Mohinī and he was smara-vihvala (overpowered by lust); thus he lost hrī (shame) and followed her, illustrating that Viṣṇu’s māyā can surpass ordinary restraint.

Practical application: what does this verse teach about controlling desire in modern life?

It warns that even strong minds can be destabilized by kāma; therefore one should cultivate vigilance, avoid tempting circumstances, and anchor the mind in devotion and remembrance of the Lord to stay steady.