Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

अथ देवो महादेवः प्रणतार्तिहरो हरः / प्रोवाचोत्थाप्य हस्ताभ्यां प्रतो ऽस्मि तव सांप्रतम्

Transliteration

atha devo mahādevaḥ praṇatārtiharo haraḥ / provācotthāpya hastābhyāṃ prato 'smi tava sāṃpratam

Translation

そのとき大神マハーデーヴァ—礼拝してひれ伏す者の苦を除くハラ—は両手で彼を起こし、こう告げた。「いま、汝を嘉しとする。」

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रसङ्गसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (indeclinable particle: then/now)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• महादेवः: Mahādeva
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक; महा + देव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (great + god)

• प्रणत-आर्ति-हरः: remover of the distress of the bowed
• प्रणत-आर्ति-हरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + आर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्रणतानाम् आर्तिं हरति इति)

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रोवाच: said/spoke
• प्रोवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उत्थाप्य: having raised
• उत्थाप्य: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया (having raised)

• हस्ताभ्याम्: with (his) two hands
• हस्ताभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), द्विवचन; करण (instrumental)

• प्रतः: bowed (in reverence)
• प्रतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र (उपसर्ग) + ता (धातु √तन्/√तृ?; here as participial adjective from √तन्/√तृ ‘to bow’)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘प्रणतः’ इत्यर्थे (bowed)

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तव: of you/your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (genitive: of you)

• सांप्रतम्: now, at present
• सांप्रतम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सांप्रतम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time: now/at present)

Speaker

Shiva (Mahadeva, Hara)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahadeva
• Hara

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes the compassionate Lord as immediately responsive to surrender; the Supreme is approached not merely by intellect but by wholehearted prostration (praṇati), where grace removes distress.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse highlights bhakti-yoga through praṇāma (prostration) and śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): humility and surrender become the inner discipline that draws divine upliftment.

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

By portraying Śiva as the direct bestower of grace to the surrendered, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology where devotion to either form of Īśvara leads to protection and spiritual upliftment.