Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

यस्य वेदविदः शान्ता निर्द्वन्द्वा ब्रह्मचारिणः / विदन्ति विमलं रूपं स शंभुर्दृश्यते किल

Transliteration

yasya vedavidaḥ śāntā nirdvandvā brahmacāriṇaḥ / vidanti vimalaṃ rūpaṃ sa śaṃbhurdṛśyate kila

Translation

ヴェーダを知る修行者たち—寂静にして二元の対立を離れ、ブラフマチャリヤに安住する者—が悟る無垢清浄の御姿、その御方こそ、まことにシャンブー（吉祥なる主）として見られる。

Word by Word

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• वेदविदः: knowers of the Veda
• वेदविदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद-विद् (प्रातिपदिक; वेद + विद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः: वेदान् वेत्ति इति/वेदस्य विदः (knowers of the Veda)

• शान्ताः: peaceful
• शान्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक; √शम् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; कृदन्त-विशेषणम्—भूतकृदन्तः (past participle)

• निर्द्वन्द्वाः: free from dualities
• निर्द्वन्द्वाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक; निर् + द्वन्द्व)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• ब्रह्मचारिणः: brahmacārins/celibate students
• ब्रह्मचारिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्म + चारिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः: ब्रह्मणि चरन्ति (those who practice brahmacarya)

• विदन्ति: know
• विदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्

• विमलम्: pure/spotless
• विमलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifying रूपम्)

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• शंभुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• दृश्यते: is seen/appears
• दृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive)

• किल: indeed
• किल: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपातः — indeed/it is said

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) teaching in a Śaiva-Vaiṣṇava synthesis context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Śaṃbhu (Śiva)
• Veda
• Brahmacarya

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It portrays the Supreme as a “stainless form” realized through inner purity—peace, freedom from dualities, and disciplined brahmacarya—indicating that true vision is a yogic-gnostic realization rather than a merely external sight.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes core sādhana markers aligned with Pāśupata-leaning discipline: śānti (settled mind), nirdvandva (equanimity beyond opposites), and brahmacarya (conservation and purification of vital energy), supported by Vedic study and contemplation.

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

By presenting the realized “stainless form” as Śaṃbhu while spoken within the Kurma Purana’s Vishnu-centered narration, it supports a non-sectarian, non-dual reading where the Supreme is one, named and approached as Śiva/Śaṃbhu without contradiction to Vaiṣṇava devotion.