Shloka 109
Kapālamocana: The Cutting of Brahmā’s Fifth Head, Śiva’s Kāpālika Vow, and Purification in Vārāṇasī
स लब्ध्वा भगवान् कृष्णो विष्वक्सेनं त्रिशूलिनः / स्वं देशमगत् तूर्णं गृहीत्वां परमं वपुः
sa labdhvā bhagavān kṛṣṇo viṣvaksenaṃ triśūlinaḥ / svaṃ deśamagat tūrṇaṃ gṛhītvāṃ paramaṃ vapuḥ
ພຣະພະຄະວານ ກຣິສນະ ໄດ້ຮັບວິສວັກເສນ (Viṣvaksena) ຈາກພຣະຜູ້ຖືຕຣິສູນ (ພຣະສິວະ) ແລ້ວຮີບກັບໄປຍັງອານາເຂດຂອງພຣະອົງ ໂດຍຮັບເອົາຮູບກາຍທິບອັນສູງສຸດຂອງພຣະອົງ.
Narrator (Purāṇic narrator in the Kurma Purana’s frame dialogue)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
By showing Kṛṣṇa “assuming the supreme form” (paramaṃ vapuḥ), the verse implies a distinction between the Lord’s manifest forms and his transcendent reality—suggesting the Supreme can reveal itself through chosen embodiments without being limited by them.
No direct practice is taught in this verse; its yoga-implication is theological: the Lord’s sovereignty over form (vapuḥ) supports contemplations found in Kurma Purana teachings—meditating on Īśvara as beyond yet capable of gracious manifestation.
Śiva (the Trident-bearer) is presented as the giver from whom Kṛṣṇa receives Viṣvaksena, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where Śiva and Viṣṇu operate in harmony rather than rivalry.