Shloka 36
Kapālamocana: The Cutting of Brahmā’s Fifth Head, Śiva’s Kāpālika Vow, and Purification in Vārāṇasī
यस्य सा परमा देवी शक्तिराकाशसंस्थिता / सो ऽनन्तैश्वर्ययोगात्मा महेशो दृश्यते किल
yasya sā paramā devī śaktirākāśasaṃsthitā / so 'nantaiśvaryayogātmā maheśo dṛśyate kila
જેનાની પરમા દેવી—અતીન્દ્રિય શક્તિ—આકાશમાં સ્થિત છે, તે મહેશ્વર અનંત ઐશ્વર્યોથી યુક્ત યોગસ્વરૂપ રૂપે નિશ્ચયે દર્શાય છે।
Lord Kurma (Vishnu) instructing in a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis context
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It presents Maheshvara as the supreme Lord whose very essence is Yoga, with Shakti pervading subtle space (ākāśa), implying the Supreme is not merely a form but an all-pervading, yogic consciousness-power (cit-śakti) recognized through inner vision.
The verse points to īśvara-dhyāna: contemplation of Maheshvara as yoga-ātmā (the very principle of Yoga) and of Shakti as ākāśa-saṃsthitā—subtle, pervasive—supporting meditations on inner space (dahara/ākāśa) and the unbroken presence of divine power.
In the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology, Vishnu (as Kurma) can teach Maheshvara-tattva without contradiction: the Supreme Lord is one reality spoken of through Shiva-language (Maheshvara, Shakti, Yoga), reinforcing non-sectarian unity rather than rivalry.