Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

यो ऽथ नाचारनिरतान् स्वभक्तानेव केवलम् / विमोचयति लोकानां नायको दृश्यते किल

Transliteration

yo 'tha nācāraniratān svabhaktāneva kevalam / vimocayati lokānāṃ nāyako dṛśyate kila

Translation

Воистину не видно иного покровителя миров — кроме Того, кто освобождает даже Своих преданных, не стойких в предписанном поведении, лишь потому что они — Его собственные.

Word by Word

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• अथ: then/and
• अथ: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपात/समुच्चयार्थकः (particle/conj.) — then/and now

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निषेध-निपातः (negation particle)

• आचारनिरतान्: those devoted to proper conduct
• आचारनिरतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आचार-निरत (प्रातिपदिक; आचार + निरत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः: आचारे निरताः

• स्वभक्तान्: his own devotees
• स्वभक्तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-भक्त (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + भक्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुष-समासः: स्वस्य भक्ताः

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारण-निपातः (emphatic particle) — only/indeed

• केवलम्: merely/alone
• केवलम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन प्रयोगः (used adverbially as indeclinable); क्रियाविशेषणम् — merely/only

• विमोचयति: releases/liberates
• विमोचयति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• लोकानाम्: of the worlds/of people
• लोकानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive/6th), बहुवचनम्

• नायकः: leader
• नायकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• दृश्यते: is seen/appears
• दृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः, आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive)

• किल: indeed
• किल: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; निपातः — indeed/it is said

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu), teaching devotees and sages in the Kurma Purana’s Purva-bhaga discourse context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Lord (Ishvara)
• Bhakta (devotee)
• Lokas (worlds)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme Lord (Ishvara) as the singular refuge and liberator of all worlds, whose saving power is rooted in sovereign grace rather than being limited by external qualifications.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse prioritizes bhakti (exclusive devotion and surrender) as the decisive means; it implies that while ācāra and discipline support Yoga, liberation ultimately depends on steadfast God-centered devotion under Ishvara’s grace.

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

By emphasizing one supreme “nāyaka” who grants moksha to devotees, it aligns with the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology where the liberating Ishvara is approached through both Shaiva and Vaishnava devotional frameworks.