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Plate 42

Śiva Enchanted by Mohinī-Mūrti

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, in the form of a woman, captivated the demons T and enabled the demigods to drink nectar. After hearing of these pastimes, Lord Śiva went to see Lord Viṣṇu in the company of his wife and his companions. The Supreme Personality of Godhead welcomed Lord Śiva and his entourage with great respect, and after being seated comfortably, Lord Śiva duly worshiped the Lord and requested to see the Lord's incarnation as a woman. The Lord agreed, and soon, in a nearby forest 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 sārī and ornamented with a belt, and Her face was decorated with broad, beautiful, restless eyes, which moved as She played with a ball and bounced it here and there. 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.

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, his wife, and his associates nearby.

Śiva Enchanted by Mohinī-Mūrti