Shloka 51

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच नमो देवाय महते महादेव्यै नमो नमः / नमः शिवाय शान्ताय शिवायै शान्तये नमः

Transliteration

brahmovāca namo devāya mahate mahādevyai namo namaḥ / namaḥ śivāya śāntāya śivāyai śāntaye namaḥ

Translation

ब्रह्मा म्हणाले—महान देवाला नमस्कार; महान देवीला पुनःपुन्हा नमस्कार। शांत शिवाला नमस्कार; शांतीस्वरूपा शिवेला नमस्कार।

Word by Word

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• namaḥ: salutation, homage
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namaḥ (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: Indeclinable interjection/particle (निपात); used with dative for salutation

• devāya: to the god
• devāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• mahate: to the great
• mahate: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular; adjective qualifying devāya

• mahādevyai: to the Great Goddess
• mahādevyai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahādevi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Dative (4th), Singular

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namaḥ (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: Indeclinable particle; repetition for emphasis

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namaḥ (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: Indeclinable particle; repetition for emphasis

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namaḥ (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: Indeclinable particle

• śivāya: to Śiva
• śivāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular

• śāntāya: to the peaceful
• śāntāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th), Singular; adjective qualifying śivāya

• śivāyai: to Śivā (Goddess)
• śivāyai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śivā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Dative (4th), Singular

• śāntaye: to Peace
• śāntaye: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śānti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Dative (4th), Singular

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namaḥ (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: Indeclinable particle

Speaker

Brahma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shiva
• Mahadevi
• Shiva (Shiva as Śakti)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By saluting Śiva as “śānta” (tranquil) and Śivā as “śānti” (peace), the verse points to the supreme principle as inner stillness—peaceful consciousness—revered in both masculine (Śiva) and feminine (Śakti) aspects.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śānti (peace) as the essential yogic aim: cultivating inner tranquility through devotion (namas), recollection of the divine, and steadying the mind—an orientation compatible with Pāśupata-leaning discipline where calmness supports contemplation and mantra-like salutation.

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

Though Śiva and Śakti are named explicitly, the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis frames such praise as honoring the same supreme reality in different forms—supporting a non-sectarian, integrative view consistent with Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava unity.