Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 119

Dakṣa’s Progeny, Nṛsiṃha–Varāha Avatāras, and Andhaka’s Defeat

Hari–Hara–Śakti Synthesis

Devanagari script

कपालमालाभरणः प्रेतभस्मावगुण्ठितः / विमोहयंल्लोकमिमं जटामण्डलमण्डितः

Transliteration

kapālamālābharaṇaḥ pretabhasmāvaguṇṭhitaḥ / vimohayaṃllokamimaṃ jaṭāmaṇḍalamaṇḍitaḥ

Translation

कपालमाळ धारण करून, प्रेतभस्माने आच्छादित आणि जटांच्या विशाल मंडलाने विभूषित होऊन तो हा सर्व लोक विमोहित करीत आहे।

Word by Word

• कपाल-माला-भरणः: wearing a garland of skulls
• कपाल-माला-भरणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kapāla + mālā + bharaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमास: ‘kapāla-mālāyāḥ bharaṇaḥ’ (wearing a garland of skulls)

• प्रेत-भस्म-अवगुण्ठितः: covered with (preta-)ash
• प्रेत-भस्म-अवगुण्ठितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: preta + bhasma + avaguṇṭhita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास: ‘preta-bhasmanā avaguṇṭhitaḥ’ (covered with ash of the dead/ghostly ash)

• विमोहयन्: deluding
• विमोहयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + √muh (मुह्) (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; causative stem मोहय- with उपसर्ग vi-

• लोकम्: the world
• लोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (लोक) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (इदम्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण of लोकम्

• जटा-मण्डल-मण्डितः: adorned with a mass of matted locks
• जटा-मण्डल-मण्डितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaṭā + maṇḍala + maṇḍita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास: ‘jaṭā-maṇḍalena maṇḍitaḥ’ (adorned with a circle/mass of matted hair)

Speaker

Narrator (Purana voice, traditionally Sūta/compilers) describing Rudra (Shiva) in context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying Rudra as one who “bewilders the world,” the verse points to the power that transcends ordinary perception—worldly appearances can be overturned by the Lord’s māyā, urging the seeker to look beyond externals toward the inner Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The imagery of ash, skulls, and matted locks signals radical renunciation (vairāgya) and detachment—an ascetic orientation aligned with Pāśupata/Shiva-oriented discipline, where fearlessness, disidentification from the body, and steadiness of mind support meditation.

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

Within the Kurma Purana’s synthesis, such descriptions of Rudra emphasize the same supreme, world-transcending divinity that Vishnu also embodies—different forms and functions, but a shared theological thrust toward one highest reality beyond delusion.