Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 35
Lord Śiva Bewildered by Mohinī
Viṣṇu’s Yoga-māyā and the Limits of Ascetic Power
स्कन्ने रेतसि सोऽपश्यदात्मानं देवमायया । जडीकृतं नृपश्रेष्ठ सन्न्यवर्तत कश्मलात् ॥ ३५ ॥
skanne retasi so ’paśyad ātmānaṁ deva-māyayā jaḍīkṛtaṁ nṛpa-śreṣṭha sannyavartata kaśmalāt
噢，帕利克希特大王！当湿婆完全泄出精液之后，便看见自己竟被至上人格神所施展的天界幻力（devā-māyā）所迷惑，几如木然。于是他从迷乱中收摄其心，不再随逐幻相。
Once one is agitated by lusty desires upon seeing a woman, those desires increase more and more, but when semen is discharged in the act of sex, the lusty desires diminish. The same principle acted upon Lord Śiva. He was allured by the beautiful woman Mohinī-mūrti, but when his semen had been fully discharged, he came to his senses and realized how he had been victimized as soon as he saw the woman in the forest. If one is trained to protect his semen by observing celibacy, naturally he is not attracted by the beauty of a woman. If one can remain a brahmacārī, he saves himself so much trouble in material existence. Material existence means enjoying the pleasure of sexual intercourse ( yan maithunādi-gṛhamedhi-sukham ). If one is educated about sex life and is trained to protect his semen, he is saved from the danger of material existence.
FAQs
This verse shows that the Lord’s divine māyā can bewilder even exalted beings like Lord Śiva, making one momentarily stunned and then prompting withdrawal from delusion.
Śukadeva addresses Parīkṣit respectfully while narrating a sensitive episode, emphasizing that the teaching is for an ideal ruler-devotee seeking spiritual clarity.
When overwhelmed by desire or confusion, recognize the mind’s susceptibility to illusion, step back from the trigger, and re-center through remembrance of God, self-restraint, and sincere humility.