Shloka 93

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

Devanagari script

किमर्थमेतद् वदनं ब्रह्मणो भवता धृतम् / प्रोवाच वृत्तमखिलं भगवान् परमेश्वरः

Transliteration

kimarthametad vadanaṃ brahmaṇo bhavatā dhṛtam / provāca vṛttamakhilaṃ bhagavān parameśvaraḥ

Translation

“എന്തിനാണ് നീ ബ്രഹ്മാവിന്റെ ഈ മുഖം (രൂപം) ധരിച്ചത്?” എന്ന് ചോദിക്കപ്പെട്ടപ്പോൾ ഭഗവാൻ പരമേശ്വരൻ സമഗ്രവൃത്താന്തം അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു।

Word by Word

• किमर्थम्: why
• किमर्थम्: प्रश्न (Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम्-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb ‘why/for what purpose’); तत्पुरुष-समास (kim + artham)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: विशेषण/निर्देश (Deictic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (Singular)

• वदनम्: face, mouth
• वदनम्: कर्म (Karman/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: सम्बन्ध (Relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• भवता: by you
• भवता: कर्ता (Agent in passive/कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (Singular); आदरार्थे (honorific ‘by you’)

• धृतम्: held, borne
• धृतम्: क्रिया-विशेषण/विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि (held/born)

• प्रोवाच: said, declared
• प्रोवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र- वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• वृत्तम्: the event, what happened
• वृत्तम्: कर्म (Karman/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular)

• अखिलम्: entire, all
• अखिलम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण वृत्तम् प्रति

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• परमेश्वरः: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारयः (paramaḥ īśvaraḥ)

Speaker

Suta (narrator) describing the response of Parameśvara within the dialogue

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Parameśvara

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme Lord (Parameśvara) as the conscious source who can assume forms such as Brahmā, implying the Atman/Iśvara is not limited by any single embodiment and can disclose the full truth of events.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

This verse itself is narrative and does not list techniques; however, it frames the Purāṇic method of śravaṇa (reverent listening) to the Lord’s teaching as a primary gateway to insight—often paired in the Kurma tradition with devotion, discipline, and later Pāśupata-oriented practice.

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

By emphasizing a single Parameśvara who can take on Brahmā-like manifestation and authoritatively reveal the whole account, it supports the Kurma Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis where divine roles (creation, preservation, dissolution) are expressions of one Supreme reality.