Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 75

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

Devanagari script

कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशैः प्रमथैश्चातिगर्वितैः / भाति कालाग्निनयनो महादेवः समावृतः

Transliteration

koṭisūryapratīkāśaiḥ pramathaiścātigarvitaiḥ / bhāti kālāgninayano mahādevaḥ samāvṛtaḥ

Translation

無数の太陽の光にも似て輝き、猛々しく昂ぶるプラマタたちに囲まれて、時の火のごとく眼を燃やすマハーデーヴァは、圧倒的な光輝をもって顕現する。

Word by Word

• koṭi-sūrya-pratīkāśaiḥ: with (those) shining like crores of suns
• koṭi-sūrya-pratīkāśaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: koṭi (प्रातिपदिक) + sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + pratīkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana; बहुवचन-तृतीया विशेषणम् (instrumental plural adjective)

• pramathaiḥ: by/with the Pramathas (attendants)
• pramathaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pramatha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-nipāta (conjunction/समुच्चय-निपात)

• ati-garvitaiḥ: with the very proud (ones)
• ati-garvitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + garvita (कृदन्त; √garv (धातु) + kta)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana; kta-participle used adjectivally; ‘ati’ upasarga/avyaya-prefix

• bhāti: shines/appears
• bhāti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhā (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/वर्तमान), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथम), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• kāla-agni-nayanaḥ: the one whose eyes are the fire of Time
• kāla-agni-nayanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + nayana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; बहुव्रीहिः—‘whose eyes are (like) the fire of Time’

• mahā-devaḥ: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• mahā-devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; कर्मधारयः—‘the great god’

• sam-āvṛtaḥ: surrounded/covered
• sam-āvṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam (उपसर्ग) + √vṛ (धातु) + kta
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; kta-participle (past passive participle) used predicatively

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing Śiva’s form and retinue within the Kurma Purana’s discourse framework, traditionally mediated by sages such as Vyāsa/Sūta depending on recension)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Mahadeva (Shiva)
• Pramathas
• Kala (Time)
• Agni (Cosmic Fire)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying Śiva as “kālāgni-nayana” (Time-fire-eyed), the verse points to the Supreme as the transcendent power that governs impermanence and dissolution—suggesting an Īśvara who is beyond ordinary time while also ruling it.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse itself is a dhyāna-supporting visualization: meditating on Rudra’s tejas (radiance) and kālāgni aspect aligns with Pāśupata-oriented contemplation—steadying the mind on the awe-inspiring Lord as the inner ruler of time, fear, and transformation.

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

Though explicitly describing Śiva, the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis treats such theophanies as revelations of the one supreme Īśvara—supporting a non-sectarian reading where Śiva’s cosmic sovereignty complements Viṣṇu/Kūrma’s teaching authority.