Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 8 Chapter 12:38-47

Book 8: Chapter 12

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 8: Chapter 12: Verses 38-47 Infatuation of Lord Sankara The glorious Lord said: I am glad, O jewel among the gods, that You have by Yourself regained Your (unruffled) natural state even though, O dear one, You were easily duped by My Maya (deluding potency). Indeed what male, other than You, can, when (once) caught in it, overcome My Maya, which creates various objects (of attraction) and cannot be easily got over by those who have not been able to control their mind. This aforesaid Maya, consisting of the three Gunas (Sattva, Rajas and Tamas), which gets united with Me-appearing in the form of the Time-Spirit-in time (at the time of creation, preservation and dissolution of the universe) by parts (in the form of Rajas, Sattva and Tamas respectively) shall no longer overpower You. Sri Suka continued: Thus kindly treated (embraced) by Lord Visnu (bearing the mark of Srivatsa---in the shape of white curly hair-on His bosom), O king, and asking His leave and walking round Him (as a mark of respect), Lord Siva, accompanied by His retinue, returned to His own abode (Kailasa). Presently, in the midst of the foremost of seers, who stood glorifying Him, Lord Siva (the Source of the universe) lovingly spoke to His Spouse (as follows) about the aforesaid May, the (divine) energy of Lord Visnu (His own self). "Did you behold with your own eyes the deluding potency of Lord Visnu (the birthless One), the highest Person, the supreme Deity, under whose influence (even) I, the foremost of His rays, helplessly fell a prey to delusion! What wonder, then, that others, who are not masters of their self, should do so. He is actually the same eternal Person about whom you inquired, approaching me when I had just ceased from deep meditation at the end of a thousand (celestial) years, (nay,) whom Time cannot set bounds to nor can the Veda comprehend. Srii Suka went on: In this way has been narrated to you, O dear one, the story of the exploits of Lord Visnu (the Wielder of the Sarnga bow), by whom (in the form of the divine Tortoise) was supported on His back the huge mountain (called Mandara) during the churning of the ocean (of milk). The exertion of a man reciting or listening to this story again and again never goes in vain anywhere. For, a narration of the virtues of Lord Visnu, enjoying excellent renown, relieves the entire fatigue of birth and death. I bow to Him who grants the wishes of those that approach Him for shelter and who, having assumed by His illusive power the form of a (bewitching) damsel and deluding the demons( the enemies of the gods), gave nectar, churned out of the ocean (of milk), to drink to the foremost of the gods, that had sought refuge in His feet-inaccessible to the vile and attainable through devotion (alone). Thus ends the twelfth discourse entitled "The Infatuation of Lord Sankara" in Book Eight of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita.