Shloka 103

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

Devanagari script

प्रविश्य परमं स्थानं कपालं ब्रह्मणो हरः / गणानामग्रतो देवः स्थापयामास शङ्करः

Transliteration

praviśya paramaṃ sthānaṃ kapālaṃ brahmaṇo haraḥ / gaṇānāmagrato devaḥ sthāpayāmāsa śaṅkaraḥ

Translation

ເຂົ້າໄປສູ່ສະຖານທີ່ສູງສຸດອັນສັກສິດ ຮາຣະ (ພຣະສິວະ) ໄດ້ວາງກະໂຫຼກຂອງພຣະພຣະຫມາ. ແລະຕໍ່ໜ້າບັນດາຄະນະ (Gaṇa) ພຣະເທວະສັງກະຣະໄດ້ສະຖາປະນາມັນຢ່າງເປັນພິທີ.

Word by Word

• praviśya: having entered
• praviśya: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-viś (धातु) + ya (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; स्थानम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• sthānam: place
• sthānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• kapālam: skull
• kapālam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā
• brahmaṇaḥ: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• haraḥ: Hara (Śiva)
• haraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• gaṇānām: of the gaṇas
• gaṇānām: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• agrataḥ: in front
• agrataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agratas (अव्यय)
• Form: देश-वाचक-अव्यय (adverb: in front)

• devaḥ: the god
• devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; हरेः/शङ्करस्य समानाधिकरणम्

• sthāpayāmāsa: caused to be placed / set up
• sthāpayāmāsa: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु) + ṇic (णिच्) + लिट्
• Form: णिजन्त (causative) धातु; लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• śaṅkaraḥ: Śaṅkara
• śaṅkaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; देवः इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम्

Speaker

Suta (narrator) describing Shiva’s act within the Purana’s narrative frame

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Hara
• Shankara
• Brahma
• Kapala
• Ganas

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by calling the site “paramaṃ sthānam,” it points to a highest sacred locus where egoic transgression is purified—suggesting that the supreme reality is approached through consecrated awareness and surrender rather than mere action.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tīrtha-sense and consecration (sthāpana) as a Shaiva discipline: sanctifying place and mind, acting with ritual focus before the Gaṇas (the devoted community), aligning conduct with Pāśupata ideals of purification and restraint.

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

Though Vishnu is not named here, the Kurma Purana’s larger synthesis frames Shiva’s sacred act as part of dharma upheld by the same Supreme—supporting a non-competitive, complementary Shaiva–Vaishnava vision where divine functions converge in the highest truth.