Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 65

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्महत्यापनोदार्थं व्रतं लोकाय दर्शयन् / चरस्व सततं भिक्षां संस्थापय सुरद्विजान्

Transliteration

brahmahatyāpanodārthaṃ vrataṃ lokāya darśayan / carasva satataṃ bhikṣāṃ saṃsthāpaya suradvijān

Translation

ब्रह्महत्या के पाप-निवारण हेतु व्रत धारण करो और लोक-शिक्षा के लिए उसे प्रकट करो। सदा भिक्षा पर जीवन बिताओ और देवतुल्य पूज्य द्विजों की प्रतिष्ठा (स्थापना) करो।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्महत्या-अपनोद-अर्थम्: for the purpose of removing brahma-hatya (sin of killing a Brahmin)
• ब्रह्महत्या-अपनोद-अर्थम्: Prayojana/Hetu (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्महत्या + अपनोद + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अपनोदस्य अर्थः)

• व्रतम्: vow, observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लोकाय: for the people/world
• लोकाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• दर्शयन्: showing, demonstrating
• दर्शयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभावेन (concomitant action)

• चरस्व: practice/perform (you)
• चरस्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सततम्: always, continually
• सततम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सतत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• भिक्षाम्: alms
• भिक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• संस्थापय: establish, set up
• संस्थापय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative)

• सुर-द्विजान्: the gods and the twice-born (Brahmins)
• सुर-द्विजान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (सुराश्च द्विजाश्च)

Speaker

A senior teacher/authority figure instructing an offender in prāyaścitta (expiation) within the Kurma Purana’s dharma discourse

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmahatya
• Dvija
• Brahmins
• Vrata
• Bhiksha

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it emphasizes purification of conduct and restoration of dharma as prerequisites for clarity of inner knowledge; ethical expiation supports the sāttvika mind needed for realizing the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Not a meditation technique, but a yogic discipline of restraint: living on bhikṣā, taking a vrata, and humility—forms of niyama/tapas that purify the practitioner and steady the mind.

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

By focusing on shared dharma (vrata, tapas, restoration of the twice-born), it reflects the Purana’s synthetic approach: the same moral law underlies both Shaiva and Vaishnava paths, even when sectarian names are not explicit.