Shloka 60

The Description of Kāśī (Kāśī-māhātmya): Avimukta, Kapālamocana, and Śiva’s Purification

Devanagari script

स्नातमात्रे हरे तत्तु कपालं पाणितोऽपतत् । कपालमोचनं नाम तत्तीर्थं ख्यातिमागतम् ॥ ६० ॥

Transliteration

snātamātre hare tattu kapālaṃ pāṇito'patat | kapālamocanaṃ nāma tattīrthaṃ khyātimāgatam || 60 ||

Translation

ハリがそこで沐浴したその瞬間、あの髑髏の鉢は手からすべり落ちた。ゆえにその聖なるティールタは「カパーラモーチャナ」（髑髏より解き放つ者）と名高くなった。

Word by Word

• स्नातमात्रे: at the very moment of bathing
• स्नातमात्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नात (स्ना-धातु, क्त कृदन्त) + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (at the mere act/time of bathing)

• हरे: in/when Hari (was bathing)
• हरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• कपालम्: skull
• कपालम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• पाणितः: from the hand
• पाणितः: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• अपतत्: fell down
• अपतत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• कपालमोचनम्: Kapālamocana (Skull-release)
• कपालमोचनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject/Name-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल + मोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुष-समास (release/removal of the skull)

• नाम: named
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Naming particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-शब्द (quotative/marker: 'named')

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Determiner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• तीर्थम्: pilgrimage-place
• तीर्थम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• ख्यातिम्: fame
• ख्यातिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख्याति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• आगतम्: having attained/come to
• आगतम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रिया-विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) + आगत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (narrating to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It explains the naming-power of a tīrtha: Hari’s act of bathing causes the ‘kapāla’ to fall away, symbolizing the removal of a burden/impurity and establishing the place as Kapālamocana—renowned for liberation from such afflictions.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By showing Hari’s presence and action as the source of sanctity, it points devotees to bhakti expressed through tīrtha-sevā—reverent pilgrimage and bathing with remembrance of Hari—where grace is portrayed as immediate (“the moment he bathed”).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice (kalpa-oriented conduct): the verse foregrounds tīrtha-snānā (sacred bathing) as a purificatory act and explains the etymological naming of a place (a nirukti-style insight) based on the event—Kapāla + mocana.