Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

कथं तत्परमं ब्रह्म सर्वसङ्गविवर्जितम् / रमते भार्यया सार्धं प्रमथैश्चातिगर्वितैः

Transliteration

kathaṃ tatparamaṃ brahma sarvasaṅgavivarjitam / ramate bhāryayā sārdhaṃ pramathaiścātigarvitaiḥ

Translation

Как может тот Высший Брахман—совершенно свободный от всякой привязанности—радоваться вместе с супругой и с праматхами, исполненными чрезмерной гордыни?

Word by Word

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (interrogative adverb)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; संकेत (demonstrative)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सर्व-सङ्ग-विवर्जितम्: devoid of all attachments
• सर्व-सङ्ग-विवर्जितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + वि + वर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘विवर्जित’ = ‘devoid of’; समासः: सर्वसङ्गस्य विवर्जितम्

• रमते: delights, sports
• रमते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• भार्यया: with (his) wife
• भार्यया: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह-करण; companion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सार्धम्: together with
• सार्धम्: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सार्धम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक (postposition/adverb: together with)

• प्रमथैः: with the Pramathas (attendants)
• प्रमथैः: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अति-गर्वितैः: with the very proud (ones)
• अति-गर्वितैः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग) + गर्वित (प्रातिपदिक; गर्व् धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (प्रमथैः इत्यस्य)

Speaker

A questioning sage (interlocutor) addressing the teaching context about the Supreme and the Lord’s līlā

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Brahman
• Bhāryā (Consort)
• Pramatha

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It frames a classic Vedāntic problem: the Supreme Brahman is described as completely unattached, yet appears to participate in relational life. The implied teaching is that transcendence (asaṅgatva) is not contradicted by divine manifestation—līlā occurs without binding attachment.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse supports a yogic discrimination (viveka): contemplating the difference between the Lord’s actionless, unattached reality and His manifest forms. Such reflection stabilizes vairāgya (dispassion) and aids meditation on the Lord as both nirguṇa (beyond qualities) and saguṇa (graspable for devotion).

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

By mentioning the Pramathas (Śiva’s hosts) alongside the Supreme Brahman’s “consort,” it gestures to Purāṇic non-contradiction: the one Supreme can be spoken of through Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava idioms, with attendants and divine relationships understood as expressions of the same ultimate reality.