Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 26

Kapālamocana: The Cutting of Brahmā’s Fifth Head, Śiva’s Kāpālika Vow, and Purification in Vārāṇasī

Devanagari script

प्रजज्वालातिकोपेन ब्रह्मणः पञ्चमं शिरः / क्षणाददृश्यत महान् पुरुषो नीललोहितः

Transliteration

prajajvālātikopena brahmaṇaḥ pañcamaṃ śiraḥ / kṣaṇādadṛśyata mahān puruṣo nīlalohitaḥ

Translation

ولما اشتعل براهما بغضبٍ عارم، احترق رأسه الخامس وزال؛ وفي لحظةٍ ظهر «الإنسان العظيم» نِيلالوهِيتا، السيد الأزرق والأحمر.

Word by Word

• प्रजज्वाल: blazed forth
• प्रजज्वाल: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; ‘blazed forth’

• अतिकोपेन: with excessive anger
• अतिकोपेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति + कोप (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः/उपसर्ग-पूर्वपद: ‘अतिकोप’ = excessive anger

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• पञ्चमम्: fifth
• पञ्चमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण of शिरः

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• क्षणात्: in a moment / instantly
• क्षणात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• अदृश्यत: appeared
• अदृश्यत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense): ‘became visible/appeared’

• महान्: great
• महान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण of पुरुषः

• पुरुषः: a person/being
• पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नीललोहितः: blue-and-red (epithet)
• नीललोहितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील + लोहित (प्रातिपदिक); समास
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (copulative): ‘नीलश्च लोहितश्च’ (blue and red) as epithet

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) recounting the Purāṇic episode to the sages

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Nīlalohita
• Rudra
• Śiva

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

By calling Nīlalohita a “mahān puruṣa,” the verse frames the deity as a cosmic Person who can manifest instantly—suggesting a transcendent reality that is not limited by ordinary causation, yet appears within creation to restore order.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is taught in this verse, but it sets a Shaiva-Pāśupata tone: uncontrolled krodha (wrath) is shown as a destabilizing force, implying the Yogic need for self-mastery (dama) and inner steadiness that later supports Pāśupata discipline and devotion.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

Though this verse names a Rudra-form (Nīlalohita), the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis treats such manifestations as expressions of the same supreme governance of dharma—supporting a non-sectarian reading where Śiva’s theophany complements Viṣṇu’s cosmic role rather than opposing it.