Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

अथानुपश्यद् गिरिशं मण्डलान्तरसंस्थितम् / समासीनं महादेव्या महादेवं सनातनम्

Transliteration

athānupaśyad giriśaṃ maṇḍalāntarasaṃsthitam / samāsīnaṃ mahādevyā mahādevaṃ sanātanam

Translation

അപ്പോൾ അവൻ മണ്ഡലത്തിന്റെ അന്തർഭാഗത്ത് സ്ഥിതനായ ഗിരീശനെ ദർശിച്ചു—സനാതന മഹാദേവൻ, മഹാദേവിയോടൊപ്പം ആസീനനായവൻ।

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमार्थक (then)

• अनुपश्यत्: he beheld
• अनुपश्यत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु- + पश्य् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गिरिशम्: Giriśa (Lord of mountains)
• गिरिशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गिरिणाम् ईशः)

• मण्डल-अन्तर-संस्थितम्: situated within the circle/region
• मण्डल-अन्तर-संस्थितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP) ‘संस्थित’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषार्थः ‘मण्डलान्तरॆ संस्थितम्’ (situated within the circle)

• समासीनम्: seated
• समासीनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP) ‘seated’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• महादेव्या: by/with the Great Goddess
• महादेव्या: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् देवः)

• सनातनम्: eternal
• सनातनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration within the Kurma Purana’s frame dialogue)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Girisha (Shiva)
• Mahadeva
• Mahadevi (Shakti/Parvati)
• Mandala

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying Mahādeva as “sanātana” (eternal) and enthroned in the mandala’s center, the verse points to the timeless, steady principle sought in contemplation—Īśvara as the stable inner reality toward which the self turns.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The imagery of a deity established in the mandala’s interior aligns with dhyāna-yoga: centering awareness in a sacred inner space, visualizing Īśvara (Śiva) with Śakti, and stabilizing the mind on a unified divine form—an idiom compatible with Pāśupata-oriented devotion and concentration.

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

In the Kurma Purana’s synthesizing theology, such visions support the non-sectarian stance: the supreme is approached through Śiva (with Śakti) without contradicting Vaiṣṇava framing, reinforcing the Purāṇa’s Shaiva–Vaiṣṇava unity in practice and realization.