Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 17

Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī

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

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच इति ब्रुवाणो भगवांस्तत्रैवान्तरधीयत । सर्वतश्चारयंश्चक्षुर्भव आस्ते सहोमया ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca iti bruvāṇo bhagavāṁs tatraivāntaradhīyata sarvataś cārayaṁś cakṣur bhava āste sahomayā

Translation

圣舒迦提婆继续说：说罢，至上主毗湿奴当即在彼处隐没不见。湿婆与乌玛留在原地，目光游移，四方寻觅祂的踪影。

Synonyms

• श्रीशुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्रीशुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीशुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—श्री + शुक (कर्मधारय)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Vakya-sambandha (वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक/quotative particle

• ब्रुवाणः: speaking
• ब्रुवाणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रू (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle, शानच्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (भगवान्) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• अन्तर्धीयत: disappeared
• अन्तर्धीयत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अन्तर्धा+इ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; ‘अन्तर्धा’ उपसर्ग/अव्ययपूर्वक धातु

• सर्वतः: everywhere
• सर्वतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; दिशावाचक/परिमाणवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: on all sides)

• चारयन्: directing/turning
• चारयन्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर् (धातु) (णिच् causative: चारय) + शतृ
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (भवः) इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; णिजन्त (causative)

• चक्षुः: (his) eyes
• चक्षुः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भवः: Bhava (Śiva)
• भवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आस्ते: remained/sat
• आस्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• सह: together with
• सह: Saha-sambandha (सह-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक उपपद (with)

• उमया: Umā (Pārvatī)
• उमया: Sahakari (सहकारी/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Bhagavān (Supreme Lord)
• Bhava (Lord Śiva)
• Umā (Pārvatī)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Vishnu disappearing after speaking?

This verse states that after speaking, Bhagavān vanished from that very spot, showing His supreme independence and His power to become unmanifest at will.

Why was Lord Shiva looking in all directions in Canto 8 Chapter 12?

After the Lord disappeared, Śiva (Bhava) remained with Umā and searched everywhere with his eyes, indicating astonishment and the lingering effect of the Lord’s divine līlā and māyā.

Practical application of this verse’s teaching in modern life?

Do not assume control over outcomes—recognize the Lord’s independence and cultivate steady devotion even when guidance or clarity seems to “disappear.”