Shloka 113

Rudra’s Removal of Brahmahatyā; Kapālamocana and Avimukta Māhātmya; Origins of Nara and Karṇa

link to Arjuna/Karna query

Devanagari script

करोत्क्षिप्तकपालेन ननर्त च महेश्वरः । शिखरस्थेन सूर्येण कैलास इव पर्वतः

Transliteration

karotkṣiptakapālena nanarta ca maheśvaraḥ | śikharasthena sūryeṇa kailāsa iva parvataḥ

Translation

करोत्क्षिप्तकपालेन ननर्त च महेश्वरः; शिखरस्थेन सूर्येण कैलास इव पर्वतः।

Word by Word

• कर-उत्क्षिप्त-कपालेन: with the skull raised in his hand
• कर-उत्क्षिप्त-कपालेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्क्षिप्त (उत्+क्षिप् धातु, क्त कृदन्त) + कपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—करेण उत्क्षिप्तं कपालं येन (with the skull lifted in the hand)

• ननर्त: danced
• ननर्त: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नृत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शिखर-स्थेन: with (the one) standing on the peak
• शिखर-स्थेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिखर (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—शिखरे स्थः (standing on the peak)

• सूर्येण: by/with the sun
• सूर्येण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• कैलासः: Kailāsa
• कैलासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैलास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इव: like
• इव: Upama-marker (उपमासूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक

• पर्वतः: a mountain
• पर्वतः: Upameya (Object compared/उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narration; specific speaker not explicit in this single verse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: mountain

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: करोत्क्षिप्तकपालेन = कर-उत्क्षिप्त-कपालेन; शिखरस्थेन = शिखर-स्थेन.

Characters & Entities

• Maheśvara (Śiva)
• Sūrya (Sun)
• Kailāsa

FAQs

Why is Śiva described as holding a kapāla (skull-bowl) while dancing?

The kapāla is a common Śaiva symbol associated with asceticism and transcendence of worldly purity/impurity; here it intensifies the awe of Śiva’s divine, otherworldly dance.

What is the poetic point of comparing the mountain to Kailāsa?

Kailāsa is Śiva’s archetypal abode; the simile suggests that the scene takes on Kailāsa-like sanctity and majesty, fitting for Śiva’s dance.

What does “the sun on the summit” convey in this verse?

It creates a vivid visual marker of radiance crowning the peak, implying splendor and cosmic scale—making the mountain resemble the luminous, sacred Kailāsa.