Padma Purana — Srishti Khanda, Shloka 115

Rudra’s Removal of Brahmahatyā; Kapālamocana and Avimukta Māhātmya; Origins of Nara and Karṇa

link to Arjuna/Karna query

Devanagari script

देवा ऊचुः । नमः कपालिने नित्यं महाकालस्य कालिने । ऐश्वर्यज्ञानयुक्ताय सर्वभागप्रदायिने

Transliteration

devā ūcuḥ | namaḥ kapāline nityaṃ mahākālasya kāline | aiśvaryajñānayuktāya sarvabhāgapradāyine

Translation

দেৱাসকলে ক’লে: কপালীনক সদায় নমস্কাৰ; মহাকালৰ কাল-স্বরূপক নমস্কাৰ। ঐশ্বৰ্য আৰু জ্ঞানযুক্ত, আৰু সকলো ভাগ দানকাৰীক নমস্কাৰ।

Word by Word

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (देव)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• ūcuḥ: said/spoke
• ūcuḥ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (वच्)
• Form: Lit Lakara (Perfect Tense/परोक्षभूत), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural

• namaḥ: salutations
• namaḥ: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (नमस्)
• Form: Particle expressing obeisance

• kapāline: to the bearer of the skull
• kapāline: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapālin (कपालिन्)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• nityam: eternally/always
• nityam: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (नित्य)
• Form: Adverb

• mahākālasya: of Mahakala (Great Time/Death)
• mahākālasya: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahākāla (महाकाल)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• kāline: to the destroyer/controller
• kāline: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kālin (कालिन्)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• aiśvaryajñānayuktāya: to the one endowed with lordship and knowledge
• aiśvaryajñānayuktāya: Visheshana (Adjective to kapāline)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aiśvaryajñānayukta (ऐश्वर्यज्ञानयुक्त)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• sarvabhāgapradāyine: to the giver of all shares/portions
• sarvabhāgapradāyine: Visheshana (Adjective to kapāline)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarvabhāgapradāyin (सर्वभागप्रदायिन्)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

Speaker

The Devas (gods), in collective praise

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: devā ūcuḥ = devāḥ + ūcuḥ (Visarga dropped before vowel)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Kapālin (Śiva)
• Mahākāla

FAQs

Who is ‘Kapālin’ in this verse?

Kapālin is an epithet of Śiva, “the skull-bearer,” recalling ascetic and fierce iconography where Śiva bears a skull as a sign of transcendence over death and worldly identity.

What does ‘Mahākālasya kāline’ imply philosophically?

It praises Śiva as Kāla (Time/Death) even beyond Mahākāla—indicating an ultimate principle that governs dissolution and transformation, not merely a deity within time but the ground of time itself.

What ethical or devotional lesson is conveyed here?

The verse models humility and surrender: recognizing a higher power as the source of both knowledge and rightful prosperity, and approaching that source through steady reverence (nityaṃ namaḥ).