Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

तन्मध्यसंस्थं विमलं मण्डलं तेजसोज्ज्वलम् / व्योममध्यगतं दिव्यं प्रादुरासीद् द्विजोत्तमाः

Transliteration

tanmadhyasaṃsthaṃ vimalaṃ maṇḍalaṃ tejasojjvalam / vyomamadhyagataṃ divyaṃ prādurāsīd dvijottamāḥ

Translation

ໃນກາງແສງນັ້ນ ມີມະນະດົນຮູບວົງມົນອັນບໍລິສຸດ ປາສະຈາກມົນທິນ ສ່ອງສະຫວ່າງດ້ວຍເຕຊະ; ເປັນທິບ ປາກົດຢູ່ກາງຟ້າ—ໂອ ທ່ານຜູ້ເປັນດວິຊະອັນປະເສີດທັງຫຼາຍ।

Word by Word

• tat-madhya-saṃstham: situated in its middle
• tat-madhya-saṃstham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad + madhya + saṃstha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘तस्य मध्ये संस्थम्’

• vimalam: pure/spotless
• vimalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vimala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• maṇḍalam: disc/orb
• maṇḍalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• tejasaḥ-ujjvalam: radiant with splendor
• tejasaḥ-ujjvalam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tejas (प्रातिपदिक) + ujjvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): ‘तेजसः उज्ज्वलम्’ = ‘bright with radiance’

• vyoma-madhya-gatam: gone to/located in the middle of the sky
• vyoma-madhya-gatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyoman + madhya + gata (कृदन्त; √gam)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘व्योम्नः मध्ये गतम्’; ‘gata’ = भूतकृदन्त (PPP) of √gam

• divyam: divine
• divyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• prādurāsīt: appeared/manifested
• prādurāsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prādur + √as (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘प्रादुर्’ उपसर्गवत् अव्ययपूर्वक-क्रिया: ‘appeared’

• dvija-uttamāḥ: O best of the twice-born
• dvija-uttamāḥ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th/Vocative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘द्विजेषु उत्तमाः’

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic storyteller addressing the sages/brāhmaṇas)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahmanas (Dvijottama)
• Divine orb (Maṇḍala)
• Sky (Vyoma)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying a “spotless, radiant orb” appearing in the sky, the verse uses a contemplative symbol for pure consciousness—unstained (vimala) and self-luminous (tejas)—often employed in Purāṇic teaching to indicate the Atman/Brahman as revealing itself when conditions are ripe.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The imagery supports dhyāna (meditation) on inner light: a stable, circular focus (maṇḍala) that is pure and radiant. In the Kurma Purana’s broader yogic tenor (including Pāśupata-oriented discipline), such a sign aligns with ekāgratā (one-pointedness) and contemplation of the divine splendor as a gateway to steadiness of mind.

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

Rather than naming a sectarian deity, it emphasizes a single “divine” manifestation (divyam) of luminous purity—consistent with the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach where the supreme reality can be spoken of through shared symbols honored across Shaiva and Vaishnava frames.