Devanagari
नैतावता भगवत: स्वमायामयवृत्तिभि: ।
न दुष्येतानुभावस्तैर्मायिन: कुहकं यथा ॥ ३० ॥
Verse text
naitāvatā bhagavataḥ
sva-māyā-maya-vṛttibhiḥ
na duṣyetānubhāvas tair
māyinaḥ kuhakaṁ yathā
Synonyms
na
—
not
;
etāvatā
—
by such (a show of humility)
;
bhagavataḥ
—
of the Personality of Godhead
;
sva
—
māyā — of His own illusory energy
;
maya
—
consisting of
;
vṛttibhiḥ
—
by the activities
;
na duṣyeta
—
is not spoiled
;
anubhāvaḥ
—
the power
;
taiḥ
—
by them
;
māyinaḥ
—
of a magician
;
kuhakam
—
the tricks
;
yathā
—
just as .
Translation
This apparent humility is simply a show of mercy. Such behavior of the Supreme Lord and His personal associates, which the Lord effects by His own bewildering potency, does not spoil His power any more than a magician’s powers are diminished by his exhibition of tricks.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Such behavior of the Supreme Lord, which the Lord produces by his own bewildering potency, does not spoil his power any more than a magician's powers are diminished by his exhibition of tricks.
The power of the Lord is not spoiled by his offering respects etc. to devotees which are actions of his māyā, in order to teach the world. His actions are like those of a magician desiring money who performs tricks. The Lord’s powers are not spoiled by praising or offering obeisances. Another version has duṣyati. Though Śiva’s praises were not done by māyā, the sage was embarrassed by being praised. Thus the example is not unsuitable.