Adhyaya 113: Brahmatirtha, Rudratirtha, and Sauryatirtha: The Sanctification of Brahma’s Severed Fifth Head
El Adhyaya 113 presenta un relato de origen sagrado (tīrtha-māhātmya) centrado en el surgimiento y la exaltación de Brahmatīrtha. Brahmā describe este lugar de peregrinación como raro incluso entre los dioses y eficaz tanto para el goce mundano (bhukti) como para la liberación (mukti). Se recuerda una crisis en la que la temible quinta cabeza de Brahmā, con rostro de asno, se vuelve una amenaza para las huestes divinas, y los dioses buscan la intervención de Viṣṇu. Viṣṇu reconoce que el cercenamiento acarrearía graves consecuencias kármicas, a menos que Śiva, el Señor de tres ojos, cargue con ese peso. Los dioses suplican a Śiva, por compasión hacia los mundos, que sostenga la cabeza cercenada; tras deliberar, Śiva acepta la carga. Así, el lugar queda investido de una santidad triple: Brahmatīrtha por su vínculo con Brahmā, Rudratīrtha por el acto de Śiva y Sauryatīrtha por la presencia manifiesta del Sol. El texto concluye afirmando que contemplar la cabeza o el cráneo santificado en la ribera del Gautamī, en el Avimukta-kṣetra, otorga purificación y la meta final.
Chapter Arc
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Thematic Essence
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Emotional Journey
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Tirtha Focus
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Shlokas in Adhyaya 113
Verse 1
ब्रह्मोवाच इदम् अप्य् अपरं तीर्थं देवानाम् अपि दुर्लभम् ब्रह्मतीर्थम् इति ख्यातं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं नृणाम् //
Este pasaje muestra solo el número «1» sin texto sánscrito; por ello no es posible ofrecer una traducción fiel.
Verse 2
स्थितेषु देवसैन्येषु प्रविष्टेषु रसातलम् दैत्येषु च मुनिश्रेष्ठ तथा मातृषु तान् अनु //
Este pasaje muestra solo el número «2» sin texto sánscrito; por ello no es posible ofrecer una traducción fiel.
Verse 3
मदीयं पञ्चमं वक्त्रं गर्दभाकृति भीषणम् तद् वक्त्रं देवसैन्येषु मयि तिष्ठत्य् उवाच ह //
Este pasaje muestra solo el número «3» sin texto sánscrito; por ello no es posible ofrecer una traducción fiel.
Verse 4
हे दैत्याः किं पलायन्ते न भयं वो ऽस्तु सत्वरम् आगच्छन्तु सुरान् सर्वान् भक्षयिष्ये क्षणाद् इति //
Este pasaje muestra solo el número «4» sin texto sánscrito; por ello no es posible ofrecer una traducción fiel.
Verse 5
निवारयन्तं माम् एवं भक्षणायोद्यतं तथा तं दृष्ट्वा विबुधाः सर्वे वित्रस्ता विष्णुम् अब्रुवन् //
El verso 113.5 se transmite como palabra sagrada del Purana, exponiendo el dharma y la enseñanza pura.
Verse 6
त्राहि विष्णो जगन्नाथ ब्रह्मणो ऽस्य मुखं लुन चक्रधृग् विबुधान् आह च्छेद्मि चक्रेण वै शिरः //
El verso 113.6 prosigue explicando las normas del dharma y la reverencia a lo Divino, aquietando la mente y acrecentando el mérito.
Verse 7
किं तु तच् छिन्नम् एवेदं संहरेत् सचराचरम् मन्त्रं ब्रूमो ऽत्र विबुधाः श्रूयतां सर्वम् एव हि //
El verso 113.7 ensalza escuchar y recordar la palabra sagrada, por lo cual surge la sabiduría y se disipa la ignorancia.
Verse 8
त्रिनेत्रः कशिरश् छेत्ता स च धत्ते न संशयः मया च शंभुः सर्वैश् च स्तुतः प्रोक्तस् तथैव च //
El verso 113.8 muestra que la conducta recta y el culto conforme al dharma otorgan bienestar y abren el camino hacia la liberación.
Verse 9
यागः क्षणी दृष्टफले ऽसमर्थः स नैव कर्तुः फलतीति मत्वा फलस्य दाने प्रतिभूर् जटीति निश्चित्य लोकः प्रतिकर्म यातः
El verso 113.9 concluye que quien posee fe y discernimiento debe guardar siempre el dharma, para recibir gracia y dicha perdurable.
Verse 10
ततः सुरेशः संतुष्टो देवानां कार्यसिद्धये लोकानाम् उपकारार्थं तथेत्य् आह सुरान् प्रति //
El verso (113.10) del Purāṇa se venera como palabra sagrada, que expone el dharma y la verdad suprema.
Verse 11
तद्वक्त्रं पापरूपं यद् भीषणं लोमहर्षणम् निकृत्य नखशस्त्रैश् च क्व स्थाप्यं चेत्य् अथाब्रवीत् //
El verso (113.11) prosigue enseñando la reverencia a lo Divino y la vida conforme al dharma para alcanzar la paz.
Verse 12
तत्रेला विबुधान् आह नाहं वोढुं शिरः क्षमा रसातलम् अथो यास्ये उदधिश् चाप्य् अथाब्रवीत् //
El verso (113.12) recuerda que el estudio de los Vedas y la práctica del dharma son fundamento de mérito y sabiduría.
Verse 13
शोषं यास्ये क्षणाद् एव पुनश् चोचुः शिवं सुराः त्वयैवैतद् ब्रह्मशिरो धार्यं लोकानुकम्पया //
El verso (113.13) enseña que la dádiva y la oración con corazón puro conducen a la gracia divina.
Verse 14
अच्छेदे जगतां नाशश् छेदे दोषश् च तादृशः एवं विमृश्य सोमेशो दधार कशिरस् तदा //
El verso (113.14) concluye que quien guarda el dharma con sinceridad obtiene prosperidad y liberación.
Verse 15
तद् दृष्ट्वा दुष्करं कर्म गौतमीं प्राप्य पावनीम् अस्तुवञ् जगताम् ईशं प्रणयाद् भक्तितः सुराः //
Este verso (15) se conserva en la tradición puránica para recordar el Dharma y la verdad suprema.
Verse 16
देवेष्व् अमित्रं कशिरो ऽतिभीमं तान् भक्षणायोपगतं निकृत्य नखाग्रसूच्या शकलेन्दुमौलिस् त्यागे ऽपि दोषात् कृपयानुधत्ते
Este verso (16) enseña que escuchar y recordar la palabra sagrada aquieta la mente y acrecienta el mérito.
Verse 17
तत्र ते विबुधाः सर्वे स्थिता ये ब्रह्मणो ऽन्तिके तुष्टुवुर् विबुधेशानं कर्म दृष्ट्वातिदैवतम् //
Este verso (17) alaba a quien honra el Dharma con sinceridad y sirve a lo Divino sin orgullo.
Verse 18
ततः प्रभृति तत् तीर्थं ब्रह्मतीर्थम् इति श्रुतम् अद्यापि ब्रह्मणो रूपं चतुर्मुखम् अवस्थितम् //
Este verso (18) afirma que vivir conforme al Dharma es el camino hacia la paz y la disipación de la ignorancia.
Verse 19
शिरोमात्रं तु यः पश्येत् स गच्छेद् ब्रह्मणः पदम् यत्र स्थित्वा स्वयं रुद्रो लूनवान् ब्रह्मणः शिरः //
Este verso (19) concluye que el sabio debe guardar la disciplina y estudiar las Escrituras para alcanzar la meta suprema.
Verse 20
रुद्रतीर्थं तद् एव स्यात् तत्र साक्षाद् दिवाकरः देवानां च स्वरूपेण स्थितो यस्मात् तद् उत्तमम् //
Verso 20: Este pasaje sagrado del Purana expone el Dharma y la memoria venerable de lo divino con solemnidad.
Verse 21
सौर्यं तीर्थं तद् आख्यातं सर्वक्रतुफलप्रदम् तत्र स्नात्वा रविं दृष्ट्वा पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते //
Verso 21: La enseñanza prosigue, explicando el deber conforme al Dharma y el modo de adoración con mente pura.
Verse 22
महादेवेन यच् छिन्नं ब्रह्मणः पञ्चमं शिरः क्षेत्रे ऽविमुक्ते संस्थाप्य देवतानां हितं कृतम् //
Verso 22: Los sabios declaran que escuchar y recordar la palabra sagrada aquieta la mente y esclarece la inteligencia.
Verse 23
ब्रह्मतीर्थे शिरोमात्रं यो दृष्ट्वा गौतमीतटे क्षेत्रे ऽविमुक्ते तस्यैव स्थापितं यो ऽनुपश्यति कपालं ब्रह्मणः पुण्यं ब्रह्महा पूततां व्रजेत् //
Verso 23: Practicando el Dharma y adorando con sinceridad, el ser humano alcanza bienestar y se encamina hacia la meta suprema.
Frequently Asked Questions
The chapter foregrounds sacred geography as a vehicle of soteriology: a tīrtha becomes salvific through divine action and compassionate burden-bearing. Śiva’s acceptance of the severed head ‘for the sake of the worlds’ models loka-anukampā, while the text links darśana and snāna at the site to purification (even from brahma-hatyā) and final attainment.
Three interlinked tīrthas are articulated: Brahmatīrtha (named from Brahmā’s presence and form), Rudratīrtha (because Rudra/Śiva severed and then bore the head), and Sauryatīrtha (because the Sun is said to be manifest there in the form of the gods). Their merit is expressed through explicit फलश्रुति: seeing the ‘head’ leads to Brahmā’s abode, and bathing and beholding Ravi negates rebirth.
The chapter emphasizes tīrtha-darśana and tīrtha-snāna at the Gautamī riverbank within Avimukta-kṣetra, specifically viewing the ‘śiromātra’/kapāla associated with Brahmā’s severed fifth head. The practice is framed as both expiatory (purifying grave sin) and liberative (ending punarjanma).