Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 16

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas — Brahmahatyā, Association with the Fallen, and Tīrtha-Based Purification

Devanagari script

कपालपाणिः खट्वाङ्गी ब्रह्मचर्यपरायणः / पूर्णे तु द्वादशे वर्षे ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति

Transliteration

kapālapāṇiḥ khaṭvāṅgī brahmacaryaparāyaṇaḥ / pūrṇe tu dvādaśe varṣe brahmahatyāṃ vyapohati

Translation

হাতে কপাল‑পাত্র ও সঙ্গে খট্বাঙ্গ ধারণ করে, ব্রহ্মচর্যে নিবিষ্ট থেকে—বারো বছর পূর্ণ হলে সে ব্রহ্মহত্যার পাপ দূর করে।

Word by Word

• कपालपाणिः: one whose hand holds a skull
• कपालपाणिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कपालस्य पाणिः)

• खट्वाङ्गी: one bearing a club (khaṭvāṅga)
• खट्वाङ्गी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खट्वाङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; -इन्/ई-प्रत्ययान्त (possessor)

• ब्रह्मचर्यपरायणः: devoted to celibacy
• ब्रह्मचर्यपरायणः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Agent-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मचर्ये परायणः)

• पूर्णे: when completed
• पूर्णे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; 'वर्षे' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध-बोधक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/अनुक्रम-सूचक

• द्वादशे: in the twelfth
• द्वादशे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक; 'वर्षे' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वर्षे: in the year
• वर्षे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्रह्महत्याम्: the sin of brahmin-slaying
• ब्रह्महत्याम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्महत्यā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः हत्या)

• व्यपोहति: removes/dispels
• व्यपोहति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + √ऊह्/व्यूह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्गः वि- + अप-; अर्थे ‘निवारयति/अपनयति’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma/prāyaścitta in a Shaiva mode

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmacarya
• Brahmahatyā
• Kapāla (skull-bowl)
• Khaṭvāṅga
• Pāśupata/Śaiva ascetic observance

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames liberation-oriented discipline through purification—by strict brahmacarya and expiation, the mind becomes fit for realizing the Self beyond sin and merit, a hallmark of the Kurma Purana’s dharma-to-jñāna progression.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

A Pāśupata-leaning ascetic regimen is implied: external marks (kapāla, khaṭvāṅga) paired with inner restraint (brahmacarya) sustained over a long vow (twelve years), emphasizing tapas, self-control, and purification as preparatory yoga.

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

Vishnu (as Lord Kurma) teaches a distinctly Śaiva form of expiation, reflecting the Purana’s synthesis: sectarian symbols serve a unified dharma aimed at purification and ultimate realization rather than rivalry.