Shloka 83

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

Devanagari script

अथैनं शङ्करगणो युयुधे विष्णुसंभवम् / भीषणो भैरवादेशात् कालवेग इति श्रुतः

Transliteration

athainaṃ śaṅkaragaṇo yuyudhe viṣṇusaṃbhavam / bhīṣaṇo bhairavādeśāt kālavega iti śrutaḥ

Translation

Daraufhin kämpfte ein Gaṇa Śaṅkaras mit dem aus Viṣṇu Hervorgegangenen. Furchterregend und auf Bhairavas Geheiß handelnd, war er unter dem Namen Kālavega („Zeitesschnelle“) bekannt.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• एनम्: him
• एनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• शङ्कर-गणः: Śaṅkara’s troop (gaṇas)
• शङ्कर-गणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘of Śaṅkara’ + ‘troop’)

• युयुधे: fought
• युयुधे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘fought’

• विष्णु-संभवम्: the one born of Viṣṇu
• विष्णु-संभवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + संभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘from Viṣṇu’ + ‘born’)

• भीषणः: terrible
• भीषणः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) of (कालवेगः)

• भैरव-आदेशात्: by Bhairava’s command
• भैरव-आदेशात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैरव (प्रातिपदिक) + आदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘of Bhairava’ + ‘command’); हेतौ/निमित्ते (cause)

• काल-वेगः: Kālavega
• काल-वेगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (name: ‘time’ + ‘speed/impetus’)

• इति: thus
• इति: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• श्रुतः: was known (as)
• श्रुतः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘heard/known (as)’

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (Sūta/Vyāsa tradition) describing the battle episode

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• Śaṅkaragaṇa (Śiva’s gaṇa)
• Viṣṇu
• Bhairava
• Kālavega

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, it points to a single divine order operating through different forms—Śiva’s gaṇas and a Viṣṇu-born power—suggesting one overarching sovereignty behind apparent plurality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit practice is taught in this line; however, the motif of ‘Kālavega’ (the force of Time) supports the Kurma Purana’s broader yogic emphasis on mastering time-bound fear through steadiness (dhairya) and disciplined spiritual practice.

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

It presents a coordinated sacred cosmos: Bhairava’s command empowers Śiva’s gaṇa, while the opponent is ‘Viṣṇu-born’—a narrative frame consistent with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis rather than sectarian opposition.