Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 28
Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī
Viṣṇu’s Yoga-māyā and the Limits of Ascetic Power
सोऽनुव्रज्यातिवेगेन गृहीत्वानिच्छतीं स्त्रियम् । केशबन्ध उपानीय बाहुभ्यां परिषस्वजे ॥ २८ ॥
so ’nuvrajyātivegena gṛhītvānicchatīṁ striyam keśa-bandha upānīya bāhubhyāṁ pariṣasvaje
เมื่อไล่ตามด้วยความเร็วอย่างยิ่ง พระศิวะจับสตรีผู้ไม่สมัครใจนั้นที่มวยผมแล้วดึงเข้ามาใกล้ จากนั้นทรงโอบกอดนางด้วยพระกรทั้งสอง
FAQs
This verse describes how Śiva, overtaken by attraction, ran after Mohinī-mūrti and physically tried to seize and embrace her—showing the extraordinary power of Viṣṇu’s māyā even over great beings.
In this episode, Viṣṇu’s Mohinī form manifests divine illusion; Śiva becomes momentarily captivated, and the narrative demonstrates that only the Lord fully controls māyā.
It warns that powerful impulses can overwhelm even the accomplished; therefore one should cultivate humility, guard the senses, and take shelter of devotion to the Supreme Lord.