Shloka 111

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

Devanagari script

य इमं पठते ऽध्यायं ब्राह्मणानां समीपतः / वाचिकैर्मानसैः पापैः कायिकैश्च विमुच्यते

Transliteration

ya imaṃ paṭhate 'dhyāyaṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ samīpataḥ / vācikairmānasaiḥ pāpaiḥ kāyikaiśca vimucyate

Translation

Wer dieses Kapitel in Gegenwart der Brāhmaṇas rezitiert, wird von Sünden befreit, die durch Rede, Geist und Körper begangen wurden.

Word by Word

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Prathamā ekavacana; relative pronoun

• imam: this
• imam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (द्वितीया) ekavacana; demonstrative

• paṭhate: recites, reads
• paṭhate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: paṭh (पठ्-धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष) ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• adhyāyam: chapter
• adhyāyam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhyāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā ekavacana

• brāhmaṇānām: of Brahmins
• brāhmaṇānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brāhmaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī bahuvacana

• samīpataḥ: in the presence/nearby
• samīpataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samīpa (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverbial ablatival form (तस्) meaning 'from/at vicinity'

• vācikaiḥ: verbal (by speech)
• vācikaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vācika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsaka, Tṛtīyā (तृतीया) bahuvacana; instrumental plural qualifying pāpaiḥ

• mānasaiḥ: mental
• mānasaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsaka, Tṛtīyā bahuvacana; instrumental plural qualifying pāpaiḥ

• pāpaiḥ: from sins
• pāpaiḥ: Apādāna (अपादान/Source; from sins)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Tṛtīyā bahuvacana

• kāyikaiḥ: bodily
• kāyikaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāyika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga/Napuṃsaka, Tṛtīyā bahuvacana; instrumental plural qualifying pāpaiḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• vimucyate: is freed, is released
• vimucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + muc (मुच्-धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra, Prathama-puruṣa ekavacana, Ātmanepada; passive sense 'is released'

Speaker

Sūta (narrator) conveying the phalaśruti of the Kurma Purana discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes purification (pāpa-kṣaya) through sacred recitation, which prepares the mind for Self-knowledge by reducing mental and verbal impurities that obscure discernment of the Ātman.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights śravaṇa/pāṭha (hearing/recitation) as a purificatory discipline; in the Kurma Purana’s yogic frame, such sattva-enhancing practice supports inner steadiness needed for dhyāna and the Pāśupata-oriented spiritual path.

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

It does not name Śiva or Viṣṇu explicitly; its takeaway aligns with the Purana’s synthesis by presenting a shared dharmic method—purification through sacred discourse and brāhmaṇa-satsaṅga—supporting devotion and yoga irrespective of sectarian emphasis.