Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

अयं पुराणपुरुषो न हन्तव्यस्त्वयानघ / स्वयोगैश्वर्यमाहात्म्यान्मामेव शरणं गतः

Transliteration

ayaṃ purāṇapuruṣo na hantavyastvayānagha / svayogaiśvaryamāhātmyānmāmeva śaraṇaṃ gataḥ

Translation

O sinless one, this Ancient Cosmic Person must not be slain by you. By the greatness of his own yogic sovereignty, he has come to Me alone for refuge.

Word by Word

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (this)

• पुराण-पुरुषः: the primeval person
• पुराण-पुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (ancient + person)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• हन्तव्यः: to be killed
• हन्तव्यः: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive: to be killed), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Kartr-karana (कर्ता/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (by you)

• अनघ: O sinless one
• अनघ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case), एकवचन; संबोधन

• स्व-योग-ऐश्वर्य-माहात्म्यात्: because of the greatness of his own yogic power
• स्व-योग-ऐश्वर्य-माहात्म्यात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक) + ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य योग-ऐश्वर्यस्य माहात्म्यात् = because of the greatness of his own yogic lordship)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (me)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle: indeed/only)

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थकक्रियायाः कर्म (object of motion)

• गतः: has gone (taken)
• गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘गतोऽस्ति’ इत्यर्थे

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) (contextual attribution within Purva-bhaga narrative dialogue)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Purāṇa-Puruṣa
• Śaraṇāgati (refuge in the Lord)
• Yoga
• Aiśvarya (divine sovereignty)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the ultimate refuge (śaraṇa) who protects those aligned with spiritual power and devotion, implying a transcendent Lord who overrules violence through higher dharma.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds yoga as aiśvarya—spiritual mastery that culminates in śaraṇāgati (taking refuge in the Supreme), a hallmark of Purāṇic yoga where inner attainment matures into surrender.

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

By emphasizing yogic sovereignty and refuge in the Supreme, it resonates with the Kurma Purana’s synthesis where the highest Lord is approached through yoga and devotion—shared theological ground across Shaiva and Vaishnava currents.