Canto 8: Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations
SB8.12

Canto 8 · Chapter 12 · 47 verses · 1 story

The Mohinī-mūrti Incarnation Bewilders Lord Śiva

Lord Śiva is captivated by Mohinī but regains self-control through the Lord’s grace.

Read on Vedabase
Connected storiesThe churning of the oceanBharata Mahārāja and Jaḍa BharataQueen KuntīLord Ṛṣabhadeva
Who is speakingSūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitEvery voice in this chapter ›

What this chapter speaks about · the ten subjects

Chapter summary

This chapter describes how Lord Śiva was bewildered upon seeing the beautiful Mohinī-mūrti incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and how he later came to his senses. When Lord Śiva heard about the pastimes performed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, in the form of an attractive woman, he mounted his bull and went to see the Lord. Accompanied by his wife, Umā, and his servants, the bhūta-gaṇa, or ghosts, he approached the lotus feet of the Lord. Lord Śiva offered obeisances to the Supreme Lord as the all-pervading Lord, the universal form, the supreme controller of creation, the Supersoul, the resting place for everyone, and the completely independent cause of all causes. Thus he offered prayers giving truthful descriptions of the Lord. Then he expressed his desire. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is very kind to His devotees. Therefore, to fulfill the desire of His devotee Lord Śiva, He expanded His energy and manifested Himself in the form of a very beautiful and attractive woman. Upon seeing this form, even Lord Śiva was captivated. Later, by the grace of the Lord, he controlled himself. This demonstrates that by the power of the Lord’s external energy, everyone is captivated by the form of woman in this material world. Again, however, by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one can overcome the influence of māyā. This was evinced by Lord Śiva, the topmost devotee of the Lord. First he was captivated, but later, by the grace of the Lord, he restrained himself. It is declared in this connection that only a pure devotee can restrain himself from the attractive feature of māyā. Otherwise, once a living entity is trapped by the external feature of māyā, he cannot overcome it. After Lord Śiva was graced by the Supreme Lord, he circumambulated the Lord along with his wife, Bhavānī, and his companions, the ghosts. Then he left for his own abode. Śukadeva Gosvāmī concludes this chapter by describing the transcendental qualities of Uttamaśloka, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and by declaring that one can glorify the Lord by nine kinds of devotional service, beginning with śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam.

In this chapter

Who · Lord Śiva, Umā, the Supreme Personality of Godhead as Mohinī-mūrti

The story · After hearing how the Lord’s female form had captivated the demons, Lord Śiva went with Umā and his attendants to see Him. Śiva offered prayers and expressed his desire to see that form. To fulfill His devotee’s desire, the Lord appeared as the beautiful Mohinī, and even Śiva became captivated. Later, by the Lord’s grace, Śiva regained control of himself.

What it teaches · The Lord’s illusory energy is powerful enough to bewilder even a great personality. By the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s grace, one can overcome its influence.

Beyond this chapter

Connected stories across the Bhāgavatam

Stories told in other chapters that this chapter's verses or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purports bring in, the other Bhāgavatam verses the purports quote, and stories in other cantos with the same themes. Each link shows the sentence it comes from.

What it teaches · Even the demigods depend on the Supreme Lord’s help. Their preparations follow His direction rather than relying only on their own strength.

The endeavor of one who constantly hears or describes this narration of the churning of the Ocean of Milk will never be fruitless.

He wanted to see the recent incarnation of Mohinī-mūrti, which Lord Viṣṇu had assumed to distribute the nectar generated from the churning of the Ocean of Milk.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 8.12.12 (Text 12)
Read the story in SB 8.5–6

What it teaches · Bharata directed both his royal duties and his retired life toward pleasing the Supreme Lord. Constant devotional service increased his love for Kṛṣṇa.

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.

Read the story in SB 5.7

What it teaches · Kuntī’s prayer expresses dependence on Kṛṣṇa and the desire for uninterrupted devotion. The Lord remains unborn and transcendental even while protecting His devotees within this world.

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.10), “The material energy [ prakṛti ] works under My direction, O son of Kuntī, and is producing all moving and unmoving beings.” Prakṛti is Durgā.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 8.12.40 (Text 40)

He therefore says, “O son of Kuntī, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.” Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, CHAPTER ELEVEN CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 8.12.47 (Text 47)
Read the story in SB 1.8