Shloka 26
Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī
Viṣṇu’s Yoga-māyā and the Limits of Ascetic Power
सा तमायान्तमालोक्य विवस्त्रा व्रीडिता भृशम् । निलीयमाना वृक्षेषु हसन्ती नान्वतिष्ठत ॥ २६ ॥
sā tam āyāntam ālokya vivastrā vrīḍitā bhṛśam nilīyamānā vṛkṣeṣu hasantī nānvatiṣṭhata
ఆ సుందరి అప్పటికే నిర్వస్త్రగా ఉండెను. శివుడు తనవైపు వస్తున్నాడని చూసి ఆమె అత్యంత లజ్జపడెను. చిరునవ్వుతో చెట్ల మధ్య దాగుతూ, ఒకచోట నిలువలేదు.
FAQs
This verse shows Mohinī-mūrti playfully evading Lord Śiva—hiding among trees and not staying in one place—illustrating how captivating and elusive the Lord’s māyā can appear even to exalted beings.
In the narrative of Canto 8, Chapter 12, Mohinī-mūrti (Viṣṇu’s enchanting form) intensifies Śiva’s bewilderment through playful modesty—laughing, hiding, and moving constantly—thereby demonstrating the Lord’s divine potency and the limits of ordinary control before māyā.
The verse cautions that temptation can be both attractive and unstable—constantly shifting—so one should cultivate vigilance, disciplined senses, and devotion rather than assuming immunity due to position, knowledge, or past spiritual practice.