Shloka 3
Kapālamocana: The Cutting of Brahmā’s Fifth Head, Śiva’s Kāpālika Vow, and Purification in Vārāṇasī
पुरा पितामहं देवं मेरुशृङ्गे महर्षयः / प्रोचुः प्रणम्य लोकादिं किमेकं तत्त्वमव्ययम्
purā pitāmahaṃ devaṃ meruśṛṅge maharṣayaḥ / procuḥ praṇamya lokādiṃ kimekaṃ tattvamavyayam
Einst, auf dem Gipfel des Berges Meru, verneigten sich die großen ṛṣis vor dem göttlichen Pitāmaha (Brahmā), dem Urquell der Welten, und fragten: „Was ist die eine unvergängliche Wirklichkeit (tattva)?“
Narrator (Purāṇic narrator recounting the sages’ question to Brahmā/Pitāmaha)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It frames the central Upaniṣadic-style inquiry: beyond changing creation there exists one “avyaya” (imperishable) tattva—implying an unchanging supreme principle that underlies all worlds.
No technique is stated directly; the verse establishes the prerequisite of yoga-śāstra—humble approach (praṇāma), focused inquiry into tattva, and turning to a realized source of knowledge (Brahmā) before practice is taught.
While neither Śiva nor Viṣṇu is named here, the question “what is the one imperishable reality?” sets up the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis in which the supreme tattva can be taught as one reality approached through both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava frameworks.