Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 8.12.29-30
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesThe Lord’s Yoga-māyā Escapes the Embrace
“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 yoga-māyā 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.”
What the purport teaches
- The woman was embraced by Lord Śiva like a female elephant embraced by a male. With Her hair scattered, She swirled like a snake.
- She was a woman of yoga-māyā presented by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- She released Herself from Lord Śiva’s arms and ran away.
Try this today
Reread the sentence identifying Her as yoga-māyā, and reflect briefly on Her connection with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Ask yourself
How does identifying Her as yoga-māyā shape your understanding of this scene?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.