Chapter 12: The Mohinī-mūrti Incarnation Bewilders Lord Śiva

 

8.12.1-2

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca

vṛṣa-dhvajo niśamyedaḿ

yoṣid-rūpeṇa dānavān

mohayitvā sura-gaṇān

hariḥ somam apāyayat

 

vṛṣam āruhya giriśaḥ

sarva-bhūta-gaṇair vṛtaḥ

saha devyā yayau draṣṭuḿ

yatrāste madhusūdanaḥ

 

śrī-bādarāyaṇiḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; vṛṣa-dhvajaḥ — Lord Śiva, who is carried by a bull; niśamya — hearing; idam — this (news); yoṣit-rūpeṇa — by assuming the form of a woman; dānavān — the demons; mohayitvā — enchanting; sura-gaṇān — unto the demigods; hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; somam — nectar; apāyayat — caused to drink;

 

vṛṣam — the bull; āruhya — mounting; giriśaḥ — Lord Śiva; sarva — all; bhūta-gaṇaiḥ — by the ghosts; vṛtaḥ — surrounded; saha devyā — with Umā; yayau — went; draṣṭum — to see; yatra — where; āste — stays; madhusūdanaḥ — Lord Viṣṇu.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, in the form of a woman, captivated the demons and enabled the demigods to drink the nectar. After hearing of these pastimes, Lord Śiva, who is carried by a bull, went to the place where Madhusūdana, the Lord, resides. Accompanied by his wife, Umā, and surrounded by his companions, the ghosts, Lord Śiva went there to see the Lord's form as a woman.

 

8.12.3

sabhājito bhagavatā

sādaraḿ somayā bhavaḥ

sūpaviṣṭa uvācedaḿ

pratipūjya smayan harim

 

sabhājitaḥ — well received; bhagavatā — by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu; sa-ādaram — with great respect (as befitting Lord Śiva); sa-umayā — with Umā; bhavaḥ — Lord Śambhu (Lord Śiva); su-upaviṣṭaḥ — being comfortably situated; uvāca — said; idam — this; pratipūjya — offering respect; smayan — smiling; harim — unto the Lord.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead welcomed Lord Śiva and Umā with great respect, and after being seated comfortably, Lord Śiva duly worshiped the Lord and smilingly spoke as follows.

 

8.12.4

śrī-mahādeva uvāca

deva-deva jagad-vyāpiñ

jagad-īśa jagan-maya

sarveṣām api bhāvānāḿ

tvam ātmā hetur īśvaraḥ

 

śrī-mahādevaḥ uvāca — Lord Śiva (Mahādeva) said; deva-deva — O best demigod among the demigods; jagat-vyāpin — O all-pervading Lord; jagat-īśa — O master of the universe; jagat-maya — O my Lord, who are transformed by Your energy into this creation; sarveṣām api — all kinds of; bhāvānām — situations; tvam — You; ātmā — the moving force; hetuḥ — because of this; īśvaraḥ — the Supreme Lord, Parameśvara.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Mahādeva said: O chief demigod among the demigods, O all-pervading Lord, master of the universe, by Your energy You are transformed into the creation. You are the root and efficient cause of everything. You are not material. Indeed, You are the Supersoul or supreme living force of everything. Therefore, You are Parameśvara, the supreme controller of all controllers.

 

8.12.5

ādy-antāv asya yan madhyam

idam anyad ahaḿ bahiḥ

yato 'vyayasya naitāni

tat satyaḿ brahma cid bhavān

 

ādi — the beginning; antau — and the end; asya — of this manifested cosmos or of anything material or visible; yat — that which; madhyam — between the beginning and the end, the sustenance; idam — this cosmic manifestation; anyat — anything other than You; aham — the wrong mental conception; bahiḥ — outside of You; yataḥ — because of; avyayasya — the inexhaustible; na — not; etāni — all these differences; tat — that; satyam — the Absolute Truth; brahma — the Supreme; cit — spiritual; bhavān — Your Lordship.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The manifest, the unmanifest, false ego and the beginning, maintenance and annihilation of this cosmic manifestation all come from You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. But because You are the Absolute Truth, the supreme absolute spirit soul, the Supreme Brahman, such changes as birth, death and sustenance do not exist in You.

 

8.12.6

tavaiva caraṇāmbhojaḿ

śreyas-kāmā nirāśiṣaḥ

visṛjyobhayataḥ sańgaḿ

munayaḥ samupāsate

 

tava — Your; eva — indeed; caraṇa-ambhojam — lotus feet; śreyaḥ-kāmāḥ — persons desiring the ultimate auspiciousness, the ultimate goal of life; nirāśiṣaḥ — without material desire; visṛjya — giving up; ubhayataḥ — in this life and the next; sańgam — attachment; munayaḥ — great sages; samupāsate — worship.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Pure devotees or great saintly persons who desire to achieve the highest goal in life and who are completely free from all material desires for sense gratification engage constantly in the transcendental service of Your lotus feet.

 

8.12.7

tvaḿ brahma pūrṇam amṛtaḿ viguṇaḿ viśokam

ānanda-mātram avikāram ananyad anyat

viśvasya hetur udaya-sthiti-saḿyamānām

ātmeśvaraś ca tad-apekṣatayānapekṣaḥ

 

tvam — Your Lordship; brahma — the all-pervading Absolute Truth; pūrṇam — fully complete; amṛtam — never to be vanquished; viguṇam — spiritually situated, free from the material modes of nature; viśokam — without lamentation; ānanda-mātram — always in transcendental bliss; avikāram — changeless; ananyat — separated from everything; anyat — yet You are everything; viśvasya — of the cosmic manifestation; hetuḥ — the cause; udaya — of the beginning; sthiti — maintenance; saḿyamānām — and of all the directors controlling the various departments of the cosmic manifestation; ātma-īśvaraḥ — the Supersoul giving direction to everyone; ca — also; tat-apekṣatayā — everyone depends upon You; anapekṣaḥ — always fully independent.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My Lord, You are the Supreme Brahman, complete in everything. Being completely spiritual, You are eternal, free from the material modes of nature, and full of transcendental bliss. Indeed, for You there is no question of lamentation. Since You are the supreme cause, the cause of all causes, nothing can exist without You. Yet we are different from You in a relationship of cause and effect, for in one sense the cause and effect are different. You are the original cause of creation, manifestation and annihilation, and You bestow benedictions upon all living entities. Everyone depends upon You for the results of his activities, but You are always independent.

 

8.12.8

ekas tvam eva sad asad dvayam advayaḿ ca

svarṇaḿ kṛtākṛtam iveha na vastu-bhedaḥ

ajñānatas tvayi janair vihito vikalpo

yasmād guṇa-vyatikaro nirupādhikasya

 

ekaḥ — the only one; tvam — Your Lordship; eva — indeed; sat — which is existing, as the effect; asat — which is nonexistent, as the cause; dvayam — both of them; advayam — without duality; ca — and; svarṇam — gold; kṛta — manufactured into different forms; ākṛtam — the original source of gold (the gold mine); iva — like; iha — in this world; na — not; vastu-bhedaḥ — difference in the substance; ajñānataḥ — only because of ignorance; tvayi — unto You; janaiḥ — by the general mass of people; vihitaḥ — it should be done; vikalpaḥ — differentiation; yasmāt — because of; guṇa-vyatikaraḥ — free from the differences created by the material modes of nature; nirupādhikasya — without any material designation.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear Lord, Your Lordship alone is the cause and the effect. Therefore, although You appear to be two, You are the absolute one. As there is no difference between the gold of a golden ornament and the gold in a mine, there is no difference between cause and effect; both of them are the same. Only because of ignorance do people concoct differences and dualities. You are free from material contamination, and since the entire cosmos is caused by You and cannot exist without You, it is an effect of Your transcendental qualities. Thus the conception that Brahman is true and the world false cannot be maintained.

 

8.12.9

tvāḿ brahma kecid avayanty uta dharmam eke

eke paraḿ sad-asatoḥ puruṣaḿ pareśam

anye 'vayanti nava-śakti-yutaḿ paraḿ tvāḿ

kecin mahā-puruṣam avyayam ātma-tantram

 

tvām — You; brahma — the supreme truth, the Absolute Truth, Brahman; kecit — some people, namely the group of Māyāvādīs known as the Vedāntists; avayanti — consider; uta — certainly; dharmam — religion; eke — some others; eke — some others; param — transcendental; sat-asatoḥ — to both cause and effect; puruṣam — the Supreme person; pareśam — the supreme controller; anye — others; avayanti — describe; nava-śakti-yutam — endowed with nine potencies; param — transcendental; tvām — unto You; kecit — some; mahā-puruṣam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; avyayam — without loss of energy; ātma-tantram — supremely independent.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Those who are known as the impersonalist Vedāntists regard You as the impersonal Brahman. Others, known as the Mīmāḿsaka philosophers, regard You as religion. The Sāńkhya philosophers regard You as the transcendental person who is beyond prakṛti and puruṣa and who is the controller of even the demigods. The followers of the codes of devotional service known as the Pañcarātras regard You as being endowed with nine different potencies. And the Patañjala philosophers, the followers of Patañjali Muni, regard You as the supreme independent Personality of Godhead, who has no equal or superior.

 

8.12.10

nāhaḿ parāyur ṛṣayo na marīci-mukhyā

jānanti yad-viracitaḿ khalu sattva-sargāḥ

yan-māyayā muṣita-cetasa īśa daitya-

martyādayaḥ kim uta śaśvad-abhadra-vṛttāḥ

 

na — neither; aham — I; para-āyuḥ — that personality who lives for millions and millions of years (Lord Brahmā); ṛṣayaḥ — the seven ṛṣis of the seven planets; na — nor; marīci-mukhyāḥ — headed by Marīci Ṛṣi; jānanti — know; yat — by whom (the Supreme Lord); viracitam — this universe, which has been created; khalu — indeed; sattva-sargāḥ — although born in the mode of material goodness; yat-māyayā — by the influence of whose energy; muṣita-cetasaḥ — their hearts are bewildered; īśa — O my Lord; daitya — the demons; martya-ādayaḥ — the human beings and others; kim uta — what to speak of; śaśvat — always; abhadra-vṛttāḥ — influenced by the base qualities of material nature.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my Lord, I, who am considered to be the best of the demigods, and Lord Brahmā and the great ṛṣis, headed by Marīci, are born of the mode of goodness. Nonetheless, we are bewildered by Your illusory energy and cannot understand what this creation is. Aside from us, what is to be said of others, like the demons and human beings, who are in the base modes of material nature [rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa]? How will they know You?

 

8.12.11

sa tvaḿ samīhitam adaḥ sthiti-janma-nāśaḿ

bhūtehitaḿ ca jagato bhava-bandha-mokṣau

vāyur yathā viśati khaḿ ca carācarākhyaḿ

sarvaḿ tad-ātmakatayāvagamo 'varuntse

 

saḥ — Your Lordship; tvam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; samīhitam — which has been created (by You); adaḥ — of this material cosmic manifestation; sthiti-janma-nāśam — creation, maintenance and annihilation; bhūta — of the living entities; īhitam ca — and the different activities or endeavors; jagataḥ — of the whole world; bhava-bandha-mokṣau — in being implicated and being liberated from material complications; vāyuḥ — the air; yathā — as; viśati — enters; kham — in the vast sky; ca — and; cara-acara-ākhyam — and everything, moving and nonmoving; sarvam — everything; tat — that; ātmakatayā — because of Your presence; avagamaḥ — everything is known to You; avaruntse — You are all-pervading and therefore know everything.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My Lord, You are the supreme knowledge personified. You know everything about this creation and its beginning, maintenance and annihilation, and You know all the endeavors made by the living entities, by which they are either implicated in this material world or liberated from it. As the air enters the vast sky and also enters the bodies of all moving and nonmoving entities, You are present everywhere, and therefore You are the knower of all.

 

8.12.12

avatārā mayā dṛṣṭā

ramamāṇasya te guṇaiḥ

so 'haḿ tad draṣṭum icchāmi

yat te yoṣid-vapur dhṛtam

 

avatārāḥ — incarnations; mayā — by me; dṛṣṭāḥ — have been seen; ramamāṇasya — while You demonstrate Your various pastimes; te — of You; guṇaiḥ — by the manifestations of transcendental qualities; saḥ — Lord Śiva; aham — I; tat — that incarnation; draṣṭum icchāmi — wish to see; yat — which; te — of You; yoṣit-vapuḥ — the body of a woman; dhṛtam — was accepted.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My Lord, I have seen all kinds of incarnations You have exhibited by Your transcendental qualities, and now that You have appeared as a beautiful young woman, I wish to see that form of Your Lordship.

 

8.12.13

yena sammohitā daityāḥ

pāyitāś cāmṛtaḿ surāḥ

tad didṛkṣava āyātāḥ

paraḿ kautūhalaḿ hi naḥ

 

yena — by such an incarnation; sammohitāḥ — were captivated; daityāḥ — the demons; pāyitāḥ — were fed; ca — also; amṛtam — nectar; surāḥ — the demigods; tat — that form; didṛkṣavaḥ — desiring to see; āyātāḥ — we have come here; param — very much; kautūhalam — great eagerness; hi — indeed; naḥ — of ourselves.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My Lord, we have come here desiring to see that form of Your Lordship which You showed to the demons to captivate them completely and in this way enable the demigods to drink nectar. I am very eager to see that form.

 

8.12.14

śrī-śuka uvāca

evam abhyarthito viṣṇur

bhagavān śūla-pāṇinā

prahasya bhāva-gambhīraḿ

giriśaḿ pratyabhāṣata

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; evam — in this way; abhyarthitaḥ — being requested; viṣṇuḥ bhagavān — Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; śūla-pāṇinā — by Lord Śiva, who carries a trident in his hand; prahasya — laughing; bhāva-gambhīram — with serious gravity; giriśam — unto Lord Śiva; pratyabhāṣata — replied.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: When Lord Viṣṇu was thus requested by Lord Śiva, who carries a trident in his hand, He smiled with gravity and replied to Lord Śiva as follows.

 

8.12.15

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

kautūhalāya daityānāḿ

yoṣid-veṣo mayā dhṛtaḥ

paśyatā sura-kāryāṇi

gate pīyūṣa-bhājane

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; kautūhalāya — for the bewildering; daityānām — of the demons; yoṣit-veṣaḥ — the form of a beautiful woman; mayā — by Me; dhṛtaḥ — assumed; paśyatā — seeing that it is necessary for Me; sura-kāryāṇi — for executing the interests of the demigods; gate — having been taken away; pīyūṣa-bhājane — the jug of nectar.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: When the demons took away the jug of nectar, I assumed the form of a beautiful woman to bewilder them by directly cheating them and thus to act in the interest of the demigods.

 

8.12.16

tat te 'haḿ darśayiṣyāmi

didṛkṣoḥ sura-sattama

kāmināḿ bahu mantavyaḿ

sańkalpa-prabhavodayam

 

tat — that; te — unto you; aham — I; darśayiṣyāmi — shall show; didṛkṣoḥ — desirous of seeing; sura-sattama — O best of the demigods; kāminām — of persons who are very lusty; bahu — very much; mantavyam — an object of adoration; sańkalpa — lusty desires; prabhava-udayam — causing to be strongly aroused.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O best of the demigods, I shall now show you My form that is very much appreciated by those who are lusty. Since you want to see that form, I shall reveal it in your presence.

 

8.12.17

śrī-śuka uvāca

iti bruvāṇo bhagavāḿs

tatraivāntaradhīyata

sarvataś cārayaḿś cakṣur

bhava āste sahomayā

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; bruvāṇaḥ — while speaking; bhagavān — Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tatra — there; eva — immediately; antaradhīyata — disappeared from the vision of Lord Śiva and his associates; sarvataḥ — everywhere; cārayan — moving; cakṣuḥ — the eyes; bhavaḥ — Lord Śiva; āste — remained; saha-umayā — with his wife, Umā.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: After speaking in this way, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, immediately disappeared, and Lord Śiva remained there with Umā, looking for Him all around with moving eyes.

 

8.12.18

tato dadarśopavane vara-striyaḿ

vicitra-puṣpāruṇa-pallava-drume

vikrīḍatīḿ kanduka-līlayā lasad-

dukūla-paryasta-nitamba-mekhalām

 

tataḥ — thereafter; dadarśa — Lord Śiva saw; upavane — in a nice forest; vara-striyam — a very beautiful woman; vicitra — of many varieties; puṣpa — flowers; aruṇa — pink; pallava — leaves; drume — in the midst of the trees; vikrīḍatīm — engaged in playing; kanduka — with a ball; līlayā — by pastimes of playing; lasat — shining; dukūla — by a sari; paryasta — covered; nitamba — on her hips; mekhalām — dressed with a belt.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thereafter, in a nice forest nearby, full of trees with reddish-pink leaves and varieties of flowers, Lord Śiva saw a beautiful woman playing with a ball. Her hips were covered with a shining sari and ornamented with a belt.

 

8.12.19

āvartanodvartana-kampita-stana-

prakṛṣṭa-hāroru-bharaiḥ pade pade

prabhajyamānām iva madhyataś calat-

pada-pravālaḿ nayatīḿ tatas tataḥ

 

āvartana — by the falling down; udvartana — and springing up; kampita — trembling; stana — of the two breasts; prakṛṣṭa — beautiful; hāra — and of garlands; uru-bharaiḥ — because of the heavy load; pade pade — at every step; prabhajyamānām iva — as if breaking; madhyataḥ — in the middle portion of the body; calat — moving like that; pada-pravālam — feet reddish like coral; nayatīm — moving; tataḥ tataḥ — here and there.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Because the ball was falling down and bouncing up, as She played with it Her breasts trembled, and because of the weight of those breasts and Her heavy flower garlands, Her waist appeared to be all but breaking at every step, as Her two soft feet, which were reddish like coral, moved here and there.

 

8.12.20

dikṣu bhramat-kanduka-cāpalair bhṛśaḿ

prodvigna-tārāyata-lola-locanām

sva-karṇa-vibhrājita-kuṇḍalollasat-

kapola-nīlālaka-maṇḍitānanām

 

dikṣu — in all directions; bhramat — moving; kanduka — of the ball; cāpalaiḥ — restlessness; bhṛśam — now and then; prodvigna — full of anxieties; tāra — eyes; āyata — broad; lola — restless; locanām — with such eyes; sva-karṇa — on Her own two ears; vibhrājita — illuminating; kuṇḍala — earrings; ullasat — shining; kapola — cheeks; nīla — bluish; alaka — with hair; maṇḍita — was decorated; ānanām — face.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The woman's face was decorated by broad, beautiful, restless eyes, which moved as the ball bounced here and there from Her hand. The two brilliant earrings on Her ears decorated Her shining cheeks like bluish reflections, and the hair scattered on Her face made Her even more beautiful to see.

 

8.12.21

ślathad dukūlaḿ kabarīḿ ca vicyutāḿ

sannahyatīḿ vāma-kareṇa valgunā

vinighnatīm anya-kareṇa kandukaḿ

vimohayantīḿ jagad-ātma-māyayā

 

ślathat — slipping or slackening; dukūlam — the sari; kabarīm ca — and the hair on the head; vicyutām — being slackened and scattered; sannahyatīm — trying to bind; vāma-kareṇa — with the left hand; valgunā — very beautifully attractive; vinighnatīm — striking; anya-kareṇa — with the right hand; kandukam — the ball; vimohayantīm — in this way captivating everyone; jagat — the whole world; ātma-māyayā — by the spiritual potency, the internal energy.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As She played with the ball, the sari covering Her body became loose, and Her hair scattered. She tried to bind Her hair with Her beautiful left hand, and at the same time She played with the ball by striking it with Her right hand. This was so attractive that the Supreme Lord, by His internal potency, in this way captivated everyone.

 

8.12.22

tāḿ vīkṣya deva iti kanduka-līlayeṣad-

vrīḍāsphuṭa-smita-visṛṣṭa-kaṭākṣa-muṣṭaḥ

strī-prekṣaṇa-pratisamīkṣaṇa-vihvalātmā

nātmānam antika umāḿ sva-gaṇāḿś ca veda

 

tām — Her; vīkṣya — after observing; devaḥ — Lord Śambhu; iti — in this way; kanduka-līlayā — by playing with the ball; īṣat — slight; vrīḍā — by bashfulness; asphuṭa — not very distinct; smita — with smiling; visṛṣṭa — sent; kaṭākṣa-muṣṭaḥ — defeated by the glances; strī-prekṣaṇa — by glancing at that beautiful woman; pratisamīkṣaṇa — and by constantly being watched by Her; vihvala-ātmā — whose mind was agitated; na — not; ātmānam — himself; antike — (situated) nearby; umām — his wife, mother Umā; sva-gaṇān ca — and his associates; veda — Lord Śiva could understand.

 

TRANSLATION

 

While Lord Śiva observed the beautiful woman playing with the ball, She sometimes glanced at him and slightly smiled in bashfulness. As he looked at the beautiful woman and She watched him, he forgot both himself and Umā, his most beautiful wife, as well as his associates nearby.

 

8.12.23

tasyāḥ karāgrāt sa tu kanduko yadā

gato vidūraḿ tam anuvrajat-striyāḥ

vāsaḥ sasūtraḿ laghu māruto 'harad

bhavasya devasya kilānupaśyataḥ

 

tasyāḥ — of the beautiful woman; kara-agrāt — from the hand; saḥ — that; tu — but; kandukaḥ — the ball; yadā — when; gataḥ — had gone; vidūram — far off; tam — that ball; anuvrajat — began to follow; striyāḥ — of that woman; vāsaḥ — the covering dress; sa-sūtram — with the belt; laghu — because of being very fine; mārutaḥ — the breeze; aharat — blew away; bhavasya — while Lord Śiva; devasya — the chief demigod; kila — indeed; anupaśyataḥ — was always looking.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When the ball leaped from Her hand and fell at a distance, the woman began to follow it, but as Lord Śiva observed these activities, a breeze suddenly blew away the fine dress and belt that covered her.

 

8.12.24

evaḿ tāḿ rucirāpāńgīḿ

darśanīyāḿ manoramām

dṛṣṭvā tasyāḿ manaś cakre

viṣajjantyāḿ bhavaḥ kila

 

evam — in this way; tām — Her; rucira-apāńgīm — possessing all attractive features; darśanīyām — pleasing to see; manoramām — beautifully formed; dṛṣṭvā — seeing; tasyām — upon Her; manaḥ cakre — thought; viṣajjantyām — to be attracted by him; bhavaḥ — Lord Śiva; kila — indeed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus Lord Śiva saw the woman, every part of whose body was beautifully formed, and the beautiful woman also looked at him. Therefore, thinking that She was attracted to him, Lord Śiva became very much attracted to Her.

 

8.12.25

tayāpahṛta-vijñānas

tat-kṛta-smara-vihvalaḥ

bhavānyā api paśyantyā

gata-hrīs tat-padaḿ yayau

 

tayā — by Her; apahṛta — taken away; vijñānaḥ — good sense; tat-kṛta — done by Her; smara — by the smiling; vihvalaḥ — having become mad for Her; bhavānyāḥ — while Bhavānī, the wife of Lord Śiva; api — although; paśyantyāḥ — was seeing all these incidents; gata-hrīḥ — bereft of all shame; tat-padam — to the place where She was situated; yayau — went.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Śiva, his good sense taken away by the woman because of lusty desires to enjoy with Her, became so mad for Her that even in the presence of Bhavānī he did not hesitate to approach Her.

 

8.12.26

sā tam āyāntam ālokya

vivastrā vrīḍitā bhṛśam

nilīyamānā vṛkṣeṣu

hasantī nānvatiṣṭhata

 

sā — that woman; tam — Lord Śiva; āyāntam — who was coming near; ālokya — seeing; vivastrā — She was naked; vrīḍitā — very bashful; bhṛśam — so much; nilīyamānā — was hiding; vṛkṣeṣu — among the trees; hasantī — smiling; na — not; anvatiṣṭhata — stood in one place.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The beautiful woman was already naked, and when She saw Lord Śiva coming toward Her, She became extremely bashful. Thus She kept smiling, but She hid Herself among the trees and did not stand in one place.

 

8.12.27

tām anvagacchad bhagavān

bhavaḥ pramuṣitendriyaḥ

kāmasya ca vaśaḿ nītaḥ

kareṇum iva yūthapaḥ

 

tām — Her; anvagacchat — followed; bhagavān — Lord Śiva; bhavaḥ — known as Bhava; pramuṣita-indriyaḥ — whose senses were agitated; kāmasya — of lusty desires; ca — and; vaśam — victimized; nītaḥ — having become; kareṇum — a female elephant; iva — just as; yūthapaḥ — a male elephant.

 

TRANSLATION

 

His senses being agitated, Lord Śiva, victimized by lusty desires, began to follow Her, just as a lusty elephant follows a she-elephant.

 

8.12.28

so 'nuvrajyātivegena

gṛhītvānicchatīḿ striyam

keśa-bandha upānīya

bāhubhyāḿ pariṣasvaje

 

saḥ — Lord Śiva; anuvrajya — following Her; ati-vegena — with great speed; gṛhītvā — catching; anicchatīm — although She was not willing to be caught; striyam — the woman; keśa-bandhe — on the cluster of hair; upānīya — dragging Her near; bāhubhyām — with his arms; pariṣasvaje — embraced Her.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After following Her with great speed, Lord Śiva caught Her by the braid of Her hair and dragged Her near him. Although She was unwilling, he embraced Her with his arms.

 

8.12.29-30

sopagūḍhā bhagavatā

kariṇā kariṇī yathā

itas tataḥ prasarpantī

viprakīrṇa-śiroruhā

 

ātmānaḿ mocayitvāńga

surarṣabha-bhujāntarāt

prādravat sā pṛthu-śroṇī

māyā deva-vinirmitā

 

sā — the woman; upagūḍhā — being captured and embraced; bhagavatā — by Lord Śiva; kariṇā — by a male elephant; kariṇī — a she-elephant; yathā — as; itaḥ tataḥ — here and there; prasarpantī — swirling like a snake; viprakīrṇa — scattered; śiroruhā — all the hair on Her head;

 

ātmānam — Herself; mocayitvā — releasing; ańga — O King; sura-ṛṣabha — of the best of the demigods (Lord Śiva); bhuja-antarāt — from the entanglement in the midst of the arms; prādravat — began to run very fast; sā — She; pṛthu-śroṇī — bearing very large hips; māyā — internal potency; deva-vinirmitā — exhibited by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Being embraced by Lord Śiva like a female elephant embraced by a male, the woman, whose hair was scattered, swirled like a snake. O King, this woman, who had large, high hips, was a woman of yogamāyā presented by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. She released Herself somehow or other from the fond embrace of Lord Śiva's arms and ran away.

 

8.12.31

tasyāsau padavīḿ rudro

viṣṇor adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ

pratyapadyata kāmena

vairiṇeva vinirjitaḥ

 

tasya — of He who is the Supreme Lord; asau — Lord Śiva; padavīm — the place; rudraḥ — Lord Śiva; viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu; adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ — of He who acts very wonderfully; pratyapadyata — began to follow; kāmena — by lusty desire; vairiṇā iva — as if by an enemy; vinirjitaḥ — being harassed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As if harassed by an enemy in the form of lusty desires, Lord Śiva followed the path of Lord Viṣṇu, who acts very wonderfully and who had taken the form of Mohinī.

 

8.12.32

tasyānudhāvato retaś

caskandāmogha-retasaḥ

śuṣmiṇo yūthapasyeva

vāsitām anudhāvataḥ

 

tasya — of him (Lord Śiva); anudhāvataḥ — who was following; retaḥ — the semen; caskanda — discharged; amogha-retasaḥ — of that person whose discharge of semen never goes in vain; śuṣmiṇaḥ — mad; yūthapasya — of a male elephant; iva — just like; vāsitām — to a female elephant able to conceive pregnancy; anudhāvataḥ — following.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Just as a maddened bull elephant follows a female elephant who is able to conceive pregnancy, Lord Śiva followed the beautiful woman and discharged semen, even though his discharge of semen never goes in vain.

 

8.12.33

yatra yatrāpatan mahyāḿ

retas tasya mahātmanaḥ

tāni rūpyasya hemnaś ca

kṣetrāṇy āsan mahī-pate

 

yatra — wherever; yatra — and wherever; apatat — fell; mahyām — on the surface of the world; retaḥ — the semen; tasya — of him; mahā-ātmanaḥ — of the great personality (Lord Śiva); tāni — all those places; rūpyasya — of silver; hemnaḥ — of gold; ca — and; kṣetrāṇi — mines; āsan — became; mahī-pate — O King.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O King, wheresoever on the surface of the globe fell the semen of the great personality of Lord Śiva, mines of gold and silver later appeared.

 

8.12.34

sarit-saraḥsu śaileṣu

vaneṣūpavaneṣu ca

yatra kva cāsann ṛṣayas

tatra sannihito haraḥ

 

sarit — near the shores of the rivers; saraḥsu — and near the lakes; śaileṣu — near the mountains; vaneṣu — in the forests; upavaneṣu — in the gardens or small forests; ca — also; yatra — wherever; kva — anywhere; ca — also; āsan — were exiting; ṛṣayaḥ — great sages; tatra — there; sannihitaḥ — was present; haraḥ — Lord Śiva.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Following Mohinī, Lord Śiva went everywhere — near the shores of the rivers and lakes, near the mountains, near the forests, near the gardens, and wherever there lived great sages.

 

8.12.35

skanne retasi so 'paśyad

ātmānaḿ deva-māyayā

jaḍīkṛtaḿ nṛpa-śreṣṭha

sannyavartata kaśmalāt

 

skanne — when fully discharged; retasi — the semen; saḥ — Lord Śiva; apaśyat — saw; ātmānam — his own self; deva-māyayā — by the māyā of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; jaḍīkṛtam — had become victimized as a fool; nṛpa-śreṣṭha — O best of kings (Mahārāja Parīkṣit); sannyavartata — restrained himself further; kaśmalāt — from illusion.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, best of kings, when Lord Śiva had fully discharged semen, he could see how he himself had been victimized by the illusion created by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus he restrained himself from any further māyā.

 

8.12.36

athāvagata-māhātmya

ātmano jagad-ātmanaḥ

aparijñeya-vīryasya

na mene tad u hādbhutam

 

atha — thus; avagata — being fully convinced about; māhātmyaḥ — the greatness; ātmanaḥ — of himself; jagat-ātmanaḥ — and of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; aparijñeya-vīryasya — who has unlimited potency; na — not; mene — did consider; tat — the miraculous activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in bewildering him; u ha — certainly; adbhutam — as wonderful.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thus Lord Śiva could understand his position and that of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has unlimited potencies. Having reached this understanding, he was not at all surprised by the wonderful way Lord Viṣṇu had acted upon him.

 

8.12.37

tam aviklavam avrīḍam

ālakṣya madhusūdanaḥ

uvāca parama-prīto

bibhrat svāḿ pauruṣīḿ tanum

 

tam — him (Lord Śiva); aviklavam — without being agitated by the incident that had taken place; avrīḍam — without being ashamed; ālakṣya — seeing; madhu-sūdanaḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is known as Madhusūdana, the killer of the demon Madhu; uvāca — said; parama-prītaḥ — being very pleased; bibhrat — assuming; svām — His own; pauruṣīm — original; tanum — form.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Seeing Lord Śiva unagitated and unashamed, Lord Viṣṇu [Madhusūdana] was very pleased. Thus He resumed His original form and spoke as follows.

 

8.12.38

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

diṣṭyā tvaḿ vibudha-śreṣṭha

svāḿ niṣṭhām ātmanā sthitaḥ

yan me strī-rūpayā svairaḿ

mohito 'py ańga māyayā

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; diṣṭyā — all auspiciousness; tvam — unto you; vibudha-śreṣṭha — O best of all the demigods; svām — in your own; niṣṭhām — fixed situation; ātmanā — of your own self; sthitaḥ — you are situated; yat — as; me — Mine; strī-rūpayā — appearance like a woman; svairam — sufficiently; mohitaḥ — enchanted; api — in spite of; ańga — O Lord Śiva; māyayā — by My potency.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O best of the demigods, although you have been amply harassed because of My potency in assuming the form of a woman, you are established in your position. Therefore, may all good fortune be upon you.

 

8.12.39

ko nu me 'titaren māyāḿ

viṣaktas tvad-ṛte pumān

tāḿs tān visṛjatīḿ bhāvān

dustarām akṛtātmabhiḥ

 

kaḥ — what; nu — indeed; me — My; atitaret — can surpass; māyām — illusory energy; viṣaktaḥ — attached to material sense enjoyment; tvat-ṛte — except for you; pumān — person; tān — such conditions; tān — unto the materially attached persons; visṛjatīm — in surpassing; bhāvān — reactions of material activities; dustarām — very difficult to surmount; akṛta-ātmabhiḥ — by persons unable to control their senses.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My dear Lord Śambhu, who within this material world but you can surpass My illusory energy? People are generally attached to sense enjoyment and conquered by its influence. Indeed, the influence of material nature is very difficult for them to surmount.

 

8.12.40

seyaḿ guṇa-mayī māyā

na tvām abhibhaviṣyati

mayā sametā kālena

kāla-rūpeṇa bhāgaśaḥ

 

sā — that insurmountable; iyam — this; guṇa-mayī — consisting of the three modes of material nature; māyā — illusory energy; na — not; tvām — you; abhibhaviṣyati — will be able to bewilder in the future; mayā — with Me; sametā — joined; kālena — eternal time; kāla-rūpeṇa — in the form of time; bhāgaśaḥ — with her different parts.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The material, external energy [māyā], who cooperates with Me in creation and who is manifested in the three modes of nature, will not be able to bewilder you any longer.

 

8.12.41

śrī-śuka uvāca

evaḿ bhagavatā rājan

śrīvatsāńkena sat-kṛtaḥ

āmantrya taḿ parikramya

sagaṇaḥ svālayaḿ yayau

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; evam — thus; bhagavatā — by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; rājan — O King; śrīvatsa-ańkena — who always carries the mark of Śrīvatsa on His breast; sat-kṛtaḥ — being very much applauded; āmantrya — taking permission from; tam — Him; parikramya — circumambulating; sa-gaṇaḥ — with his associates; sva-ālayam — to his own abode; yayau — went back.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, having thus been praised by the Supreme Personality, who bears the mark of Śrīvatsa on His chest, Lord Śiva circumambulated Him. Then, after taking permission from Him, Lord Śiva returned to his abode, Kailāsa, along with his associates.

 

8.12.42

ātmāḿśa-bhūtāḿ tāḿ māyāḿ

bhavānīḿ bhagavān bhavaḥ

sammatām ṛṣi-mukhyānāḿ

prītyācaṣṭātha bhārata

 

ātma-aḿśa-bhūtām — a potency of the Supreme Soul; tām — unto her; māyām — the illusory energy; bhavānīm — who is the wife of Lord Śiva; bhagavān — the powerful; bhavaḥ — Lord Śiva; sammatām — accepted; ṛṣi-mukhyānām — by the great sages; prītyā — in jubilation; ācaṣṭa — began to address; atha — then; bhārata — O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, descendant of Bharata.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O descendant of Bharata Mahārāja, Lord Śiva, in jubilation, then addressed his wife, Bhavānī, who is accepted by all authorities as the potency of Lord Viṣṇu.

 

8.12.43

ayi vyapaśyas tvam ajasya māyāḿ

parasya puḿsaḥ para-devatāyāḥ

ahaḿ kalānām ṛṣabho 'pi muhye

yayāvaśo 'nye kim utāsvatantrāḥ

 

ayi — oh; vyapaśyaḥ — have seen; tvam — you; ajasya — of the unborn; māyām — the illusory energy; parasya puḿsaḥ — of the Supreme Person; para-devatāyāḥ — the Absolute Truth; aham — myself; kalānām — of plenary portions; ṛṣabhaḥ — the chief; api — although; muhye — became bewildered; yayā — by her; avaśaḥ — imperceptibly; anye — others; kim uta — what to speak of; asvatantrāḥ — fully dependent on māyā.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Lord Śiva said: O Goddess, you have now seen the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the unborn master of everyone. Although I am one of the principal expansions of His Lordship, even I was illusioned by His energy. What then is to be said of others, who are fully dependent on māyā?

 

8.12.44

yaḿ mām apṛcchas tvam upetya yogāt

samā-sahasrānta upārataḿ vai

sa eṣa sākṣāt puruṣaḥ purāṇo

na yatra kālo viśate na vedaḥ

 

yam — about whom; mām — from me; apṛcchaḥ — inquired; tvam — you; upetya — coming near me; yogāt — from performing mystic yoga; samā — years; sahasra-ante — at the end of one thousand; upāratam — ceasing; vai — indeed; saḥ — He; eṣaḥ — here is; sākṣāt — directly; puruṣaḥ — the Supreme Person; purāṇaḥ — the original; na — not; yatra — where; kālaḥ — eternal time; viśate — can enter; na — nor; vedaḥ — the Vedas.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When I finished performing mystic yoga for one thousand years, you asked me upon whom I was meditating. Now, here is that Supreme Person to whom time has no entrance and who the Vedas cannot understand.

 

8.12.45

śrī-śuka uvāca

iti te 'bhihitas tāta

vikramaḥ śārńga-dhanvanaḥ

sindhor nirmathane yena

dhṛtaḥ pṛṣṭhe mahācalaḥ

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; te — unto you; abhihitaḥ — explained; tāta — my dear King; vikramaḥ — prowess; śārńga-dhanvanaḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who carries the Śārńga bow; sindhoḥ — of the ocean of milk; nirmathane — in the churning; yena — by whom; dhṛtaḥ — was held; pṛṣṭhe — on the back; mahā-acalaḥ — the great mountain.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, the person who bore the great mountain on His back for the churning of the ocean of milk is the same Supreme Personality of Godhead, known as Śārńga-dhanvā. I have now described to you His prowess.

 

8.12.46

etan muhuḥ kīrtayato 'nuśṛṇvato

na riṣyate jātu samudyamaḥ kvacit

yad uttamaśloka-guṇānuvarṇanaḿ

samasta-saḿsāra-pariśramāpaham

 

etat — this narration; muhuḥ — constantly; kīrtayataḥ — of one who chants; anuśṛṇvataḥ — and also hears; na — not; riṣyate — annihilated; jātu — at any time; samudyamaḥ — the endeavor; kvacit — at any time; yat — because; uttamaśloka — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; guṇa-anuvarṇanam — describing the transcendental qualities; samasta — all; saḿsāra — of material existence; pariśrama — misery; apaham — finishing.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The endeavor of one who constantly hears or describes this narration of the churning of the ocean of milk will never be fruitless. Indeed, chanting the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the only means to annihilate all sufferings in this material world.

 

8.12.47

asad-aviṣayam ańghriḿ bhāva-gamyaḿ prapannān

amṛtam amara-varyān āśayat sindhu-mathyam