Shloka 81

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

Devanagari script

अविज्ञाय परं भावं दिव्यं तत्पारमेश्वरम् / न्यवारयत् त्रिशूलाङ्कं द्वारपालो महाबलः

Transliteration

avijñāya paraṃ bhāvaṃ divyaṃ tatpārameśvaram / nyavārayat triśūlāṅkaṃ dvārapālo mahābalaḥ

Translation

ولمّا لم يَعرِفْ الحالةَ العُليا الإلهية لباراميشڤرا، ربِّ الكلّ، قامَ بوّابٌ عظيمُ القوّة، يحملُ علامةَ الرمحِ الثلاثي، فصدَّ الطريقَ ومنعَ المرورَ.

Word by Word

• अविज्ञाय: not knowing
• अविज्ञाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल; उपसर्ग: अव-; ‘not knowing/without recognizing’

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) of भावम्

• भावम्: nature/essence
• भावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) of (तत्)पारमेश्वरम्

• तत्-पारमेश्वरम्: that supreme Lord (divine being)
• तत्-पारमेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पारमेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सम्बन्ध/निर्देश: ‘that’ + ‘supreme lordly (form/being)’)

• न्यवारयत्: stopped/forbade
• न्यवारयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-वारय् (धातु; causative of √वृ/√वार् ‘to obstruct’)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: नि- (ny- before vowel); ‘stopped/warded off’

• त्रिशूल-अङ्कम्: bearing a trident-mark (trident-emblemed)
• त्रिशूल-अङ्कम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिशूल (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘trident’ + ‘marked/bearing’) विशेषणम् of द्वारपालम्

• द्वारपालः: the gatekeeper
• द्वारपालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘door’ + ‘guardian’)

• महाबलः: mighty/very strong
• महाबलः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (‘great’ + ‘strength’) विशेषणम् of द्वारपालः

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the event)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Parameśvara
• Dvārapāla (gatekeeper)
• Triśūla (trident emblem)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that the Supreme Reality (Parameśvara) can remain unrecognized by ordinary perception; the highest truth is “divya” and “para,” requiring inner discernment rather than mere external identification.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse indirectly points to viveka (discriminative insight) essential to yogic discipline: without inner clarity, one may mistake the Supreme’s presence—an idea aligned with Kurma Purana themes that yoga culminates in recognizing the Lord’s true nature.

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

By using Shaiva markers like the trident (triśūla) while speaking of Parameśvara’s supreme divinity, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian tendency where the Supreme Lord is honored through both Shaiva and Vaishnava symbols.