The Power of Shiva's Maya

Verse 1 (shiva.uma.4.1)

मुनय ऊचुः । तात तात महाभाग धन्यस्त्वं हि महामते । अद्भुतेयं कथा शम्भोः श्राविता परभक्तिदा

munaya ūcuḥ tāta tāta mahābhāga dhanyastvaṁ hi mahāmate adbhuteyaṁ kathā śambhoḥ śrāvitā parabhaktidā

The sages said: O dear one, dear one, greatly fortunate, wise Suta! Blessed indeed are you — this wondrous story of Shambhu that you have told us bestows supreme devotion.

Verse 2 (shiva.uma.4.2)

पुनर्ब्रूहि कथां शम्भोर्व्यासप्रश्नानुसारतः । सर्वज्ञस्त्वं व्यासशिष्यः शिवतत्त्वविचक्षणः

punarbrūhi kathāṁ śambhorvyāsapraśnānusārataḥ sarvajñastvaṁ vyāsaśiṣyaḥ śivatattvavicakṣaṇaḥ

Tell us again the story of Shambhu, following the questions of Vyasa; you are all-knowing, the disciple of Vyasa, skilled in the truth of Shiva.

Verse 3 (shiva.uma.4.3)

सूत उवाच । एवमेव गुरुर्व्यासः पृष्टवान् मेऽजसम्भवम् । सनत्कुमारं सर्वज्ञं शिवभक्तं मुनीश्वरम्

sūta uvāca evameva gururvyāsaḥ pṛṣṭavān me'jasambhavam sanatkumāraṁ sarvajñaṁ śivabhaktaṁ munīśvaram

Suta said: In just this way, my teacher Vyasa questioned the ever-youthful, all-knowing, Shiva-devoted lord of sages, Sanatkumara.

Verse 4 (shiva.uma.4.4)

व्यास उवाच । सनत्कुमार सर्वज्ञ श्रावितेयं शुभा कथा । शङ्करस्य महेशस्य नानालीलाविहारिणः

vyāsa uvāca sanatkumāra sarvajña śrāviteyaṁ śubhā kathā śaṅkarasya maheśasya nānālīlāvihāriṇaḥ

Vyasa said: O all-knowing Sanatkumara, this auspicious story of Shankara, the great Lord who delights in various divine sports, has been told by you.

Verse 5 (shiva.uma.4.5)

पुनर्ब्रूहि महादेवमहिमानं विशेषतः । श्रद्धा च महती श्रोतुं मम तात प्रवर्धते

punarbrūhi mahādevamahimānaṁ viśeṣataḥ śraddhā ca mahatī śrotuṁ mama tāta pravardhate

Tell me again, in particular, the greatness of Mahadeva; my great faith and eagerness to hear it, O father, continues to grow.

Verse 6 (shiva.uma.4.6)

महिम्ना येन शम्भोस्तु ये ये लोके विमोहिताः । मायया ज्ञानमाहृत्य नानालीलाविहारिणः

mahimnā yena śambhostu ye ye loke vimohitāḥ māyayā jñānamāhṛtya nānālīlāvihāriṇaḥ

Tell me by what greatness of Shambhu, he who delights in manifold divine sports, those various beings in the world were deluded, their knowledge taken away by his Maya.

Verse 7 (shiva.uma.4.7)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । शृणु व्यास महाबुद्धे शाङ्करीं सुखदां कथाम् । यस्याः श्रवणमात्रेण शिवे भक्तिः प्रजायते

sanatkumāra uvāca śṛṇu vyāsa mahābuddhe śāṅkarīṁ sukhadāṁ kathām yasyāḥ śravaṇamātreṇa śive bhaktiḥ prajāyate

Sanatkumara said: Listen, O greatly wise Vyasa, to this bliss-giving story relating to Shankara, by merely hearing which devotion to Shiva is born.

Verse 8 (shiva.uma.4.8)

शिवः सर्वेश्वरो देवः सर्वात्मा सर्वदर्शनः । महिम्ना तस्य सर्वं हि व्याप्तं च सकलं जगत्

śivaḥ sarveśvaro devaḥ sarvātmā sarvadarśanaḥ mahimnā tasya sarvaṁ hi vyāptaṁ ca sakalaṁ jagat

Shiva is the God who is Lord of all, the Self of all, all-seeing; by his greatness, indeed, the entire universe is pervaded.

Verse 9 (shiva.uma.4.9)

शिवस्यैव परा मूर्तिर्ब्रह्मविष्ण्वीश्वरात्मिका । सर्वभूतात्मभूताख्या त्रिलिङ्गालिङ्गरूपिणी

śivasyaiva parā mūrtirbrahmaviṣṇvīśvarātmikā sarvabhūtātmabhūtākhyā triliṅgāliṅgarūpiṇī

Shiva's own supreme form consists of Brahma, Vishnu, and Ishvara; it is called the very self of all beings, and has the nature both of the three genders and of that which is beyond gender.

Verse 10 (shiva.uma.4.10)

देवानां योनयश्चाष्टौ मानुषी नवमी च या । तिरश्चां योनयः पञ्च भवन्त्येवं चतुर्दश

devānāṁ yonayaścāṣṭau mānuṣī navamī ca yā tiraścāṁ yonayaḥ pañca bhavantyevaṁ caturdaśa

The eight wombs of the gods, and the ninth, human birth, and the five wombs of animals — thus there are fourteen orders of created beings.

Verse 11 (shiva.uma.4.11)

भूता वा वर्तमाना वा भविष्याश्चैव सर्वशः । शिवात्सर्वे प्रवर्तन्ते लीयन्ते वृद्धिमागताः

bhūtā vā vartamānā vā bhaviṣyāścaiva sarvaśaḥ śivātsarve pravartante līyante vṛddhimāgatāḥ

Whether past, present, or future — all of these, in every way, proceed from Shiva; having attained their growth, they dissolve back into him.

Verse 12 (shiva.uma.4.12)

ब्रह्मेन्द्रोपेन्द्रचन्द्राणां देवदानवभोगिनाम् । गन्धर्वाणां मनुष्याणामन्येषां वापि सर्वशः

brahmendropendracandrāṇāṁ devadānavabhoginām gandharvāṇāṁ manuṣyāṇāmanyeṣāṁ vāpi sarvaśaḥ

He is the source of Brahma, Indra, Upendra, and Chandra; of gods, demons, and serpents; of Gandharvas, of men, and of all others without exception.

Verse 13 (shiva.uma.4.13)

बन्धुर्मित्रमथाचार्यो रक्षन्नेतार्थवान् गुरुः । कल्पद्रुमोऽथ वा भ्राता पिता माता शिवो मतः

bandhurmitramathācāryo rakṣannetārthavān guruḥ kalpadrumo'tha vā bhrātā pitā mātā śivo mataḥ

Shiva is regarded as kinsman, friend, and teacher, the protector and guide, the meaningful preceptor; he is the wish-fulfilling tree, and likewise brother, father, and mother.

Verse 14 (shiva.uma.4.14)

शिवः सर्वमयः पुंसां स्वयं वेद्यः परात्परः । वक्तुं न शक्यते यश्च परं चानुपरं च यत्

śivaḥ sarvamayaḥ puṁsāṁ svayaṁ vedyaḥ parātparaḥ vaktuṁ na śakyate yaśca paraṁ cānuparaṁ ca yat

Shiva is all-pervading for all beings, to be known only by himself, higher than the highest; he who is beyond, and also not beyond, cannot be described in words.

Verse 15 (shiva.uma.4.15)

तन्माया परमा दिव्या सर्वत्र व्यापिनी मुने । तदधीनं जगत्सर्वं सदेवासुरमानुषम्

tanmāyā paramā divyā sarvatra vyāpinī mune tadadhīnaṁ jagatsarvaṁ sadevāsuramānuṣam

O sage, his supreme, divine Maya pervades everywhere; the entire universe, together with its gods, demons, and men, is subject to it.

Verse 16 (shiva.uma.4.16)

कामेन स्वसहायेन प्रबलेन मनोभुवा । सर्वः प्रधर्षितो वीरो विष्ण्वादिप्रबलोऽपि हि

kāmena svasahāyena prabalena manobhuvā sarvaḥ pradharṣito vīro viṣṇvādiprabalo'pi hi

By Kama, his own powerful ally born of the mind, even every mighty hero, including Vishnu and the other powerful ones, has been overcome.

Verse 17 (shiva.uma.4.17)

शिवमायाप्रभावेणाभूद्धरिः काममोहितः । परस्त्रीधर्षणं चक्रे बहुवारं मुनीश्वर

śivamāyāprabhāveṇābhūddhariḥ kāmamohitaḥ parastrīdharṣaṇaṁ cakre bahuvāraṁ munīśvara

O lord of sages, by the power of Shiva's Maya, even Hari became deluded by desire, and many times committed violation of another's wife.

Verse 18 (shiva.uma.4.18)

इन्द्रस्त्रिदशपो भूत्वा गौतमस्त्रीविमोहितः । पापं चकार दुष्टात्मा शापं प्राप मुनेस्तदा

indrastridaśapo bhūtvā gautamastrīvimohitaḥ pāpaṁ cakāra duṣṭātmā śāpaṁ prāpa munestadā

Indra, the lord of the thirty gods, becoming deluded with desire for Gautama's wife, that wicked-souled one committed sin, and then received the curse of the sage.

Verse 19 (shiva.uma.4.19)

पावकोऽपि जगच्छ्रेष्ठो मोहितः शिवमायया । कामाधीनः कृतो गर्वात्ततस्तेनैव चोद्धृतः

pāvako'pi jagacchreṣṭho mohitaḥ śivamāyayā kāmādhīnaḥ kṛto garvāttatastenaiva coddhṛtaḥ

Even Pavaka, foremost in the world, was deluded by Shiva's Maya; out of pride he was brought under the sway of desire, but was then redeemed by that very Shiva.

Verse 20 (shiva.uma.4.20)

जगत्प्राणोऽपि गर्वेण मोहितः शिवमायया । कामेन निर्जितो व्यास चक्रेऽन्यस्त्रीरतिं पुरा

jagatprāṇo'pi garveṇa mohitaḥ śivamāyayā kāmena nirjito vyāsa cakre'nyastrīratiṁ purā

O Vyasa, even Vayu, the life-breath of the world, deluded by pride through Shiva's Maya, conquered by desire, once engaged in union with another's wife.

Verse 21 (shiva.uma.4.21)

चण्डरश्मिस्तु मार्तण्डो मोहितः शिवमायया । कामाकुलो बभूवाशु दृष्ट्वाश्वीं हयरूपधृक्

caṇḍaraśmistu mārtaṇḍo mohitaḥ śivamāyayā kāmākulo babhūvāśu dṛṣṭvāśvīṁ hayarūpadhṛk

And Martanda, of fierce rays, deluded by Shiva's Maya, having seen Ashvini in her mare form, swiftly became overwhelmed by desire and himself took the form of a horse.

Verse 22 (shiva.uma.4.22)

चन्द्रश्च मोहितः शम्भोर्मायया कामसङ्कुलः । गुरुपत्नीं जहाराथ युतस्तेनैव चोद्धृतः

candraśca mohitaḥ śambhormāyayā kāmasaṅkulaḥ gurupatnīṁ jahārātha yutastenaiva coddhṛtaḥ

And Chandra, deluded by Shambhu's Maya, overcome by desire, then abducted the wife of his own teacher; and by that same Shiva was he redeemed.

Verse 23 (shiva.uma.4.23)

पूर्वं तु मित्रावरुणौ घोरे तपसि संस्थितौ । मोहितौ तावपि मुनी शिवमायाविमोहितौ

pūrvaṁ tu mitrāvaruṇau ghore tapasi saṁsthitau mohitau tāvapi munī śivamāyāvimohitau

Long ago, Mitra and Varuna, established in terrible austerity — those two sages also were deluded, deluded by Shiva's Maya.

Verse 24 (shiva.uma.4.24)

उर्वशीं तरुणीं दृष्ट्वा कामुकौ सम्बभूवतुः । मित्रः कुम्भे जहौ रेतो वरुणोऽपि तथा जले

urvaśīṁ taruṇīṁ dṛṣṭvā kāmukau sambabhūvatuḥ mitraḥ kumbhe jahau reto varuṇo'pi tathā jale

Having seen the young Urvashi, both became filled with desire; Mitra released his seed into a pitcher, and Varuna likewise into the water.

Verse 25 (shiva.uma.4.25)

ततः कुम्भात्समुत्पन्नो वसिष्ठो मित्रसम्भवः । अगस्त्यो वरुणाज्जातो वडवाग्निसमद्युतिः

tataḥ kumbhātsamutpanno vasiṣṭho mitrasambhavaḥ agastyo varuṇājjāto vaḍavāgnisamadyutiḥ

Then from that pitcher arose Vasishtha, born of Mitra; and from Varuna was born Agastya, radiant as the submarine fire.

Verse 26 (shiva.uma.4.26)

दक्षश्च मोहितः शम्भोर्मायया ब्रह्मणः सुतः । भ्रातृभिः स भगिन्यां वै भोक्तुकामोऽभवत्पुरा

dakṣaśca mohitaḥ śambhormāyayā brahmaṇaḥ sutaḥ bhrātṛbhiḥ sa bhaginyāṁ vai bhoktukāmo'bhavatpurā

And Daksha, the son of Brahma, deluded by Shambhu's Maya, together with his brothers, once desired to enjoy union with his own sister.

Verse 27 (shiva.uma.4.27)

ब्रह्मा च बहुवारं हि मोहितः शिवमायया । अभवद्भोक्तुकामश्च स्वसुतायां परासु च

brahmā ca bahuvāraṁ hi mohitaḥ śivamāyayā abhavadbhoktukāmaśca svasutāyāṁ parāsu ca

And Brahma too, many times deluded by Shiva's Maya, became desirous of union with his own daughter and with other women.

Verse 28 (shiva.uma.4.28)

च्यवनोऽपि महायोगी मोहितः शिवमायया । सुकन्यया विजह्रे स कामासक्तो बभूव ह

cyavano'pi mahāyogī mohitaḥ śivamāyayā sukanyayā vijahre sa kāmāsakto babhūva ha

Even Chyavana, the great yogi, deluded by Shiva's Maya, sported with Sukanya, becoming attached to desire.

Verse 29 (shiva.uma.4.29)

कश्यपः शिवमायातो मोहितः कामसङ्कुलः । ययाचे कन्यकां मोहाद्धन्वनो नृपतेः पुरा

kaśyapaḥ śivamāyāto mohitaḥ kāmasaṅkulaḥ yayāce kanyakāṁ mohāddhanvano nṛpateḥ purā

Kashyapa, deluded by Shiva's Maya and overwhelmed with desire, in his delusion once begged for the daughter of King Dhanva.

Verse 30 (shiva.uma.4.30)

गरुडः शाण्डिलीं कन्यां नेतुकामः सुमोहितः । विज्ञातस्तु तया सद्यो दग्धपक्षो बभूव ह

garuḍaḥ śāṇḍilīṁ kanyāṁ netukāmaḥ sumohitaḥ vijñātastu tayā sadyo dagdhapakṣo babhūva ha

Garuda, greatly deluded, desired to carry off the maiden Shandili; but being discerned by her, he instantly had his wings burnt.

Verse 31 (shiva.uma.4.31)

विभाण्डको मुनिर्नारीं दृष्ट्वा कामवशं गतः । ऋष्यशृङ्गसुतस्तस्य मृग्यां जातः शिवाज्ञया

vibhāṇḍako munirnārīṁ dṛṣṭvā kāmavaśaṁ gataḥ ṛṣyaśṛṅgasutastasya mṛgyāṁ jātaḥ śivājñayā

The sage Vibhandaka, having seen a woman, came under the sway of desire; his son Rishyashringa was born of a doe, by the command of Shiva.

Verse 32 (shiva.uma.4.32)

गौतमश्च मुनिः शम्भोर्मायामोहितमानसः । दृष्ट्वा शारद्वतीं नग्नां रराम क्षुभितस्तया

gautamaśca muniḥ śambhormāyāmohitamānasaḥ dṛṣṭvā śāradvatīṁ nagnāṁ rarāma kṣubhitastayā

And the sage Gautama, his mind deluded by Shambhu's Maya, having seen Sharadvati unclothed, agitated, took his pleasure with her.

Verse 33 (shiva.uma.4.33)

रेतः स्कन्नं दधार स्वं द्रोण्यां चैव स तापसः । तस्माच्च कलशाज्जातो द्रोणः शस्त्रभृतां वरः

retaḥ skannaṁ dadhāra svaṁ droṇyāṁ caiva sa tāpasaḥ tasmācca kalaśājjāto droṇaḥ śastrabhṛtāṁ varaḥ

That ascetic caught his own emitted seed in a wooden trough; and from that vessel was born Drona, foremost of weapon-bearers.

Verse 34 (shiva.uma.4.34)

पराशरो महायोगी मोहितः शिवमायया । मत्स्योदर्या च चिक्रीडे कुमार्या दाशकन्यया

parāśaro mahāyogī mohitaḥ śivamāyayā matsyodaryā ca cikrīḍe kumāryā dāśakanyayā

Parashara, the great yogi, deluded by Shiva's Maya, sported with the maiden born of a fish's belly, the daughter of a fisherman.

Verse 35 (shiva.uma.4.35)

विश्वामित्रो बभूवाथ मोहितः शिवमायया । रेमे मेनकया व्यास वने कामवशं गतः

viśvāmitro babhūvātha mohitaḥ śivamāyayā reme menakayā vyāsa vane kāmavaśaṁ gataḥ

O Vyasa, Vishvamitra too became deluded by Shiva's Maya, and, coming under the sway of desire, took his pleasure with Menaka in the forest.

Verse 36 (shiva.uma.4.36)

वसिष्ठेन विरोधं तु कृतवान्नष्टचेतनः । पुनः शिवप्रसादाच्च ब्राह्मणोऽभूत्स एव वै

vasiṣṭhena virodhaṁ tu kṛtavānnaṣṭacetanaḥ punaḥ śivaprasādācca brāhmaṇo'bhūtsa eva vai

With his reason destroyed, he entered into enmity with Vasishtha; but again, by the grace of Shiva, that very same man attained the status of a brahmin.

Verse 37 (shiva.uma.4.37)

रावणो वैश्रवाः कामी बभूव शिवमायया । सीतां जह्रे कुबुद्धिस्तु मोहितो मृत्युमाप च

rāvaṇo vaiśravāḥ kāmī babhūva śivamāyayā sītāṁ jahre kubuddhistu mohito mṛtyumāpa ca

Ravana, son of Vishrava, became lustful through Shiva's Maya; that evil-minded one abducted Sita, and, deluded, met his death.

Verse 38 (shiva.uma.4.38)

बृहस्पतिर्मुनिवरो मोहितः शिवमायया । भ्रातृपत्न्या वशी रेमे भरद्वाजस्ततोऽभवत्

bṛhaspatirmunivaro mohitaḥ śivamāyayā bhrātṛpatnyā vaśī reme bharadvājastato'bhavat

Brihaspati, foremost of sages, deluded by Shiva's Maya, though self-controlled, took his pleasure with his brother's wife; from that union Bharadvaja was born.

Verse 39 (shiva.uma.4.39)

इति मायाप्रभावो हि शङ्करस्य महात्मनः । वर्णितस्ते मया व्यास किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमिच्छसि

iti māyāprabhāvo hi śaṅkarasya mahātmanaḥ varṇitaste mayā vyāsa kimanyacchrotumicchasi

Thus, O Vyasa, has the power of the Maya of the great-souled Shankara been described to you by me. What else do you wish to hear?