Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 32

Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī

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

Devanagari script

तस्यानुधावतो रेतश्चस्कन्दामोघरेतस: । शुष्मिणो यूथपस्येव वासितामनुधावत: ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

tasyānudhāvato retaś caskandāmogha-retasaḥ śuṣmiṇo yūthapasyeva vāsitām anudhāvataḥ

Translation

正如狂躁的公象追逐能受孕的母象，威猛的湿婆追随那位美丽女子；虽其精液从不落空，却仍然泄出。

Synonyms

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अनुधावतः: while he was running after (her)
• अनुधावतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-धाव् (धातु) → अनुधावत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषण (तस्य)

• रेतः: semen
• रेतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चस्कन्द: spurted/fell
• चस्कन्द: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्कन्द् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अमोघ-रेतसः: of him whose seed is unfailing
• अमोघ-रेतसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमोघ (प्रातिपदिक) + रेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘अमोघं रेतो यस्य’), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषण (तस्य)

• शुष्मिणः: of the vigorous one
• शुष्मिणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुष्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषण

• यूथपस्य: of the herd-leader
• यूथपस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यूथप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक

• वासिताम्: the scented/attractive (female)
• वासिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; (कर्म)

• अनुधावतः: while running after
• अनुधावतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-धाव् (धातु) → अनुधावत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; विशेषण (यूथपस्य)

Characters & Entities

• Śiva
• Mohinī-mūrti (Viṣṇu)
• Viṣṇu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Shiva and Mohini-murti?

In Canto 8, Chapter 12, Śukadeva describes how Śiva, seeing Viṣṇu’s Mohinī form, became momentarily overpowered by desire and ran after Her, illustrating the extraordinary power of the Lord’s māyā and līlā.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrate that Lord Śiva’s semen was discharged while chasing Mohinī?

The narration emphasizes that even the greatest beings can be bewildered by the Lord’s illusory potency when the Supreme enacts His līlā, thereby establishing Viṣṇu’s supremacy and teaching vigilance against lust.

How can this verse be applied in modern life for spiritual practice?

It teaches humility and caution: one should not presume immunity to temptation, but instead strengthen sādhana—regulated life, prayer, good association, and remembrance of the Lord—to keep the mind steady.