Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 1
Kapālamocana: The Cutting of Brahmā’s Fifth Head, Śiva’s Kāpālika Vow, and Purification in Vārāṇasī
इति श्रीकूर्मपुराणे षट्साहस्त्र्यां संहितायामुपरिविभागे त्रिशो ऽध्यायः ऋषय ऊचुः कथं देवेन रुद्रेण शङ्करेणामितौजसा / कपालं ब्रह्मणः पूर्वं स्थापितं देहजं भुवि
iti śrīkūrmapurāṇe ṣaṭsāhastryāṃ saṃhitāyāmuparivibhāge triśo 'dhyāyaḥ ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kathaṃ devena rudreṇa śaṅkareṇāmitaujasā / kapālaṃ brahmaṇaḥ pūrvaṃ sthāpitaṃ dehajaṃ bhuvi
かくして『シュリー・クールマ・プラーナ』後分の「シャトサーハスリー・サンヒター」において第三十一章が始まる。仙人たちは言った。「いかにして、計り知れぬ威力をもつ神ルドラ、シャンカラが、かつて自らの身より生じたブラフマーの頭蓋を地上に据え置いたのか。」
The sages (Ṛṣayaḥ)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
This opening verse is narrative framing rather than a direct ātman-teaching: it introduces a sacred inquiry into Rudra’s act, preparing the ground for later doctrinal explanation where divine action is interpreted as dharma and cosmic order rather than mere mythic violence.
No specific yoga practice is taught in this verse; it functions as a nidāna (topic-introduction). In the Kurma Purāṇa’s Upari-bhāga, such inquiries often lead into teachings aligned with Pāśupata-oriented devotion, restraint, and contemplative understanding of Śiva’s cosmic role.
While Viṣṇu/Kūrma is not named in this line, the Upari-bhāga’s overall method is synthesis: Śaṅkara’s deeds are treated as manifestations of divine governance compatible with Purāṇic non-sectarianism, a backdrop that supports later Shiva–Vishnu unity themes.