Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 40
Kapālamocana: The Cutting of Brahmā’s Fifth Head, Śiva’s Kāpālika Vow, and Purification in Vārāṇasī
यस्य ब्रह्मादयो देवा ऋषयो ब्रह्मवादिनः / अर्चयन्ति सदा लिङ्गं विश्वेशः खलु दृश्यते
yasya brahmādayo devā ṛṣayo brahmavādinaḥ / arcayanti sadā liṅgaṃ viśveśaḥ khalu dṛśyate
ព្រះអង្គដែលលិង្គរបស់ព្រះអង្គ តែងតែត្រូវបានបូជាដោយព្រះព្រហ្មា និងទេវតាទាំងឡាយ ព្រមទាំងឥសីអ្នកបកស្រាយព្រះព្រហ្ម—ព្រះអង្គនោះឯង ត្រូវបានឃើញជាវិශ්វេសៈ ព្រះម្ចាស់នៃសកលលោក។
Lord Kurma (Viṣṇu) instructing the sages, presenting Śiva-tattva in a Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
By identifying the universally revered liṅga as Viśveśa, the verse points to a single supreme Lord manifest as the cosmic ground (Brahman) whom even Brahmā and Brahman-knowing sages worship—implying the Supreme Self as one, all-pervading sovereignty.
The verse foregrounds upāsanā (devotional contemplation) through liṅga-arcana—steady worship that trains attention, purity, and surrender, aligning with the Kūrma Purāṇa’s Pāśupata-oriented discipline where devotion and inner concentration converge.
With Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) praising Viśveśa (Śiva) as the universally worshipped Lord, it reflects the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian theology: Viṣṇu teaches Śiva’s supremacy in worship, presenting their unity as one Īśvara-tattva.