Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4
नारदमोहवर्णनम् — Description of Nārada’s Delusion
सूत उवाच । मुनौ यदृच्छया विष्णुर्गते तस्मिन्हि नारदे । शिवेच्छया चकाराशु माया मायाविशारदः
sūta uvāca | munau yadṛcchayā viṣṇurgate tasminhi nārade | śivecchayā cakārāśu māyā māyāviśāradaḥ
苏多说道：当那罗陀如此偶然离去，前往圣贤毗湿奴（梵天）之处时，毗湿奴——精通幻力（māyā）之运作——依湿婆之意，迅速造作了一场幻相。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that māyā is not supreme; it operates under the Lord’s governance—here, even Viṣṇu’s illusory power functions according to Śiva’s will, affirming Śiva as Pati (the supreme controller).
By showing Śiva as the one whose will directs cosmic functions, the verse supports Saguna Śiva worship (including Liṅga worship) as devotion to the sovereign Lord who alone can lift the veils of māyā.
A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with devotion, as a means to pierce māyā and align the mind with Śiva’s grace.