Shloka 15

Kāraṇa-vyākhyā: Cosmic Agents, Rudra-Forms, Sense-Purity, and Ānanda-Tāratamya

Devanagari script

कपालमालामशिवां सदा धारयते यतः / अतः सदाशैवो ज्ञेयो न च भागवतः शिवः

Transliteration

kapālamālāmaśivāṃ sadā dhārayate yataḥ / ataḥ sadāśaivo jñeyo na ca bhāgavataḥ śivaḥ

Translation

Because he always wears the inauspicious garland of skulls (kapāla-mālā), he should be understood as Sadāśaiva, and not as Śiva who is a Bhāgavata, a devotee of Bhagavān, the Supreme Lord.

Word by Word

• कपालमालाम्: a garland of skulls
• कपालमालाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल + माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कपालस्य माला)

• अशिवाम्: inauspicious
• अशिवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-प्रत्ययेन निषेध (not-auspicious)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• धारयते: wears/bears
• धारयते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (causal ‘because/since’)

• अतः: therefore
• अतः: Hetu-phala-sambandha (हेतु-फल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: तस्मात्-अर्थे अव्यय (therefore/for this reason)

• सदाशैवः: (he is) always Śaiva
• सदाशैवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदा + शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सदा शैवः = always Śaiva)

• ज्ञेयः: to be known/understood
• ज्ञेयः: Vidheyapada (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्) (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण; ‘to be known’ (gerundive)

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भागवतः: Bhāgavata (Vaiṣṇava)
• भागवतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भागवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of a Bhāgavata/Vaiṣṇava)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Differentiation of forms/epithets: the skull-garlanded Sadāśaiva is not the same as Śiva characterized as a Bhāgavata (devotee of Bhagavān).

Vedantic Theme: Subordination of all deities to Bhagavān (Hari) in a Vaiṣṇava theological frame; discernment (viveka) in names and forms.

Application: Practice theological discernment: distinguish symbolic/austere forms from devotional ideals; orient devotion toward Bhagavān while respecting other forms without confusion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.18.14 (Sadāśiva naming and tamas identification)

Characters & Entities

• Sadāśaiva
• Śiva
• Bhagavān

FAQs

What is the importance of Sadāśaiva in Garuda Purana?

This verse uses iconographic and doctrinal markers (like the skull-garland) to distinguish Sadāśaiva as a particular Śaiva aspect, separate from the notion of Śiva as a bhāgavata (devotee of Bhagavān).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by clarifying theological identities, it guides whom one should regard as the Supreme refuge; in Garuda Purana’s broader teaching, correct devotion and right understanding support dharma and the soul’s auspicious course after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use discernment in worship and doctrine: understand forms, symbols, and teachings carefully, and align daily conduct and devotion with what you accept as the highest spiritual authority.