138 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 8, Ch. 12
ko nu me ’titaren mayam
visaktas tvad-rte puman
tams tan visrjatim bhavan
dustaram akrtatmabhih
kah—what; nu—indeed; me—My; atitaret—can surpass; mayam—
illusory energy; visaktah—attached to material sense enjoyment; tvat-
rte—except for you; pumdn—person; tan—such conditions; tan—unto
the materially attached persons; visrjatim—in surpassing; bhavan—
reactions of material activities; dustaram—very difficult to surmount;
akrta-atmabhih—by persons unable to control their senses.
TRANSLATION
My dear Lord Sambhu, who within this material world but you
can surpass My illusory energy? People are generally attached to
sense enjoyment and conquered by its influence. Indeed, the in-
fluence of material nature is very difficult for them to surmount.
PURPORT
Of the three chief demigods— Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara—all but
Visnu are under the influence of maya. In Caitanya-caritamrta, they are
described as mayi, which means “under mdaya’s influence.” But even
though Lord Siva associates with maya, he is not influenced. The living
entities are affected by maya, but although Lord Siva apparently asso-
ciates with maya, he is not affected. In other words, all living entities
within this material world except for Lord Siva are swayed by maya.
Lord Siva is therefore neither visnu-tattva nor jiva-tattva. He is between
the two.
TEXT 40
ai aot an a arate
AN TAN BSA RSS ATT: live
seyam guna-mayi maya
na tvam abhibhavisyati
