Chapter 4 of 51 · Uma Samhita · Overall chapter 318 of 464
The Power of Shiva's Maya
Sanatkumara explains that Shiva's maya is the hidden cause behind a long catalogue of famous figures' desire-driven transgressions - Vishnu, Indra, Agni, Brahma, Chandra, Vishvamitra, Ravana and many sages among them - presented as a lesson in how even the greatest beings are subject to delusion.
The sages said
Father, most fortunate and intelligent one, you are blessed. You have made us hear Shambhu's wonderful account, which gives devotion. Following the questions Vyasa asked, please tell us Shambhu's account again. You know everything, you are Vyasa's disciple and learned in Shiva's tattva.
Suta replied
This is exactly what my guru Vyasa asked the omniscient lord of sages Sanatkumara, devoted to Shiva and born of Aja.
Vyasa said
Sanatkumara, omniscient one, you have made me hear an auspicious account of Mahesha Shankara, who takes part in many kinds of play. Please tell me again, especially of Mahadeva's greatness. When I hear it my great devotion grows. Shambhu in his greatness plays in many ways. Who are the people, lacking knowledge, who have been deluded by his maya?
Sanatkumara answered
Vyasa, wise one, listen to Shankara's account, which brings happiness: as soon as one hears it, devotion to Shiva arises. Shiva is Sarveshvara, the divinity in all selves, the witness of everything, with the whole universe pervaded by his greatness. Supreme Shiva is embodied in the selves of Brahma, Vishnu and Ishvara and is said to be in the selves of all beings. He has three manifestations and is in the form of the lingam. There are eight species of gods, humans are the ninth, and there are five kinds of lower species, so fourteen in all. All fourteen classes of beings, past, present and future, are created by Shiva, flourish by him and dissolve into him. For Brahma, Indra, Upendra, Chandra, gods, danavas, serpents, gandharvas, humans and all others he is the relative and friend, the teacher and protector, the learned guru and a wish-tree. Shiva is held to be brother, father and mother. Everything is full of Shiva and he is himself present in men. He is the one to be known, greater than the greatest, and nothing superior to him can be described. Sage, his maya is supreme and divine and pervades everything, and everything in the universe, gods, asuras and humans, is controlled by it. Vishnu and other strong, valiant ones have all suffered from desire, which is powerful, arises in the mind and acts as an aide. By the power of Shiva's maya Hari was deluded by desire, and on many occasions outraged the wives of others. Indra, lord of the gods, was deluded by Goutama's wife, committed a sin and was cursed by the sage. Pavaka, the best in the universe, was deluded by Shiva's maya, and through pride came under desire's sway and had to be saved. By Shiva's maya the breath of the universe was deluded by pride. In earlier times Vyasa was conquered by desire and was with another's wives. Martanda with his fierce rays was deluded by Shiva's maya: seeing a mare he was overwhelmed by desire and quickly took the form of a horse. Chandra, deluded by Shiva's maya, gave way to desire, abducted his guru's wife and was eventually saved by him. Earlier Mitra and Varuna performed terrible austerities, but the two sages were deluded by Shiva's maya: they saw young Urvashi and lusted after her, Mitra releasing his seed into a pot and Varuna into water. So Vasishtha was born from a pot as Mitra's son, and Agastya from Varuna, with the radiance of the undersea fire. Daksha, Brahma's son, was deluded by Shambhu's maya and earlier, with his brothers, wanted to enjoy his own sister. On several occasions Brahma was deluded by Shiva's maya and, overwhelmed by desire, wished to enjoy his own daughter and those of others. Chyavana, the great yogi, deluded by Shiva's maya, was full of desire and enjoyed Sukanya. Kashyapa, deluded by Shiva's maya, was full of desire and in earlier times in his delusion asked for King Dhanvan's daughter. Garuda, deluded, wanted to abduct the maiden Shandili, and when detected his wings were at once burned. Seeing a woman, the sage Vibhandaka gave way to desire, and by Shiva's command Rishyashringa was born to him as a son through a doe. The sage Goutama's mind was deluded by Shambhu's maya: he saw Sharadvati naked and was agitated, and his seed flowed, which the sage collected in a wooden vessel, and from that pot Drona, supreme among weapon-wielders, was born. The great yogi Parashara, deluded by Shiva's maya, was with Matsyodari, a fisherman's daughter. Vishvamitra, deluded by Shiva's maya and overcome by desire, played with Menaka in the forest and, his judgement destroyed, quarrelled with Vasishtha, but by Shiva's favour became a brahmana. By Shiva's maya Ravana, Vishrava's son, was filled with desire, and, evil in mind and deluded, abducted Sita and was killed. The supreme sage Brihaspati, deluded by Shiva's maya, was with his brother's wife and Bharadvaja was born. Such, Sanatkumara told Vyasa, are the powers of great-souled Shankara's maya, and he asked what else Vyasa wished to hear.
Retold in our own words from Bibek Debroy's English translation of the Shiva Purana (Penguin Classics). Names, numbers and the order of events follow the source.