Shloka 16

Prāyaścitta for Mahāpātakas — Brahmahatyā, Association with the Fallen, and Tīrtha-Based Purification

Devanagari script

कपालपाणिः खट्वाङ्गी ब्रह्मचर्यपरायणः / पूर्णे तु द्वादशे वर्षे ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति

Transliteration

kapālapāṇiḥ khaṭvāṅgī brahmacaryaparāyaṇaḥ / pūrṇe tu dvādaśe varṣe brahmahatyāṃ vyapohati

Translation

Portant un bol crânien et un bâton khatvanga, inébranlable dans le brahmacharya, une fois douze années révolues, il efface le péché de brahmahatya (le meurtre d'un brahmane).

Word by Word

• कपालपाणिः: one whose hand holds a skull
• कपालपाणिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कपालस्य पाणिः)

• खट्वाङ्गी: one bearing a club (khaṭvāṅga)
• खट्वाङ्गी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खट्वाङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; -इन्/ई-प्रत्ययान्त (possessor)

• ब्रह्मचर्यपरायणः: devoted to celibacy
• ब्रह्मचर्यपरायणः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Agent-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मचर्य + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मचर्ये परायणः)

• पूर्णे: when completed
• पूर्णे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; 'वर्षे' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध-बोधक (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/अनुक्रम-सूचक

• द्वादशे: in the twelfth
• द्वादशे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक; 'वर्षे' इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• वर्षे: in the year
• वर्षे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ब्रह्महत्याम्: the sin of brahmin-slaying
• ब्रह्महत्याम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्महत्यā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः हत्या)

• व्यपोहति: removes/dispels
• व्यपोहति: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप + √ऊह्/व्यूह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्गः वि- + अप-; अर्थे ‘निवारयति/अपनयति’

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing on dharma/prāyaścitta in a Shaiva mode

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmacarya
• Brahmahatyā
• Kapāla (skull-bowl)
• Khaṭvāṅga
• Pāśupata/Śaiva ascetic observance

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it frames liberation-oriented discipline through purification—by strict brahmacarya and expiation, the mind becomes fit for realizing the Self beyond sin and merit, a hallmark of the Kurma Purana’s dharma-to-jñāna progression.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

A Pāśupata-leaning ascetic regimen is implied: external marks (kapāla, khaṭvāṅga) paired with inner restraint (brahmacarya) sustained over a long vow (twelve years), emphasizing tapas, self-control, and purification as preparatory yoga.

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

Vishnu (as Lord Kurma) teaches a distinctly Śaiva form of expiation, reflecting the Purana’s synthesis: sectarian symbols serve a unified dharma aimed at purification and ultimate realization rather than rivalry.