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Shloka 102

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

प्रविष्टमात्रे देवेशे ब्रह्महत्या कपर्दिनि / हा हेत्युक्त्वा सनादं सा पातालं प्राप दुः खिता

praviṣṭamātre deveśe brahmahatyā kapardini / hā hetyuktvā sanādaṃ sā pātālaṃ prāpa duḥ khitā

தேவேசன் உள்ளே நுழைந்தவுடனே, கபர்தினான சிவன் முன்னிலையில் பிரம்மஹத்யை ‘அய்யோ! அய்யோ!’ என்று பேரொலியுடன் அலறி, துயருற்று பாதாளத்திற்குச் சென்றாள்.

praviṣṭa-mātrewhen (he) had just entered
praviṣṭa-mātre:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootpra-viś (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समासः (‘just entered’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)
deveśein/when the Lord of gods (Śiva)
deveśe:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootdeveśa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी-सम्बद्धम्
brahma-hatyāBrahmin-slaying (personified sin)
brahma-hatyā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbrahman (प्रातिपदिक) + hatyā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समासः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
kapardiniO Kapardin (Śiva)
kapardini:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeNoun
Rootkapardin (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; संबोधन/अधिकरण-प्रयोगः (O Kapardin / in Kapardin)
alas!
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothā (अव्यय)
Formविस्मय/शोक-वाचक-अव्यय (interjection)
heO!
he:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothe (अव्यय)
Formसम्बोधनार्थक-अव्यय (vocative particle)
uktvāhaving said
uktvā:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootvac (धातु) + ktvā (कृदन्त)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया
sa-nādamwith a loud sound
sa-nādam:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootsa (सह) + nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
Formअव्ययीभाव-समासः; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverbial: ‘with a sound/cry’)
she (that one)
:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
pātālamthe netherworld
pātālam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootpātāla (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
prāpareached
prāpa:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootpra-āp (धातु)
Formलिट्/लुङ्-रूपसदृश भूतकाल (Perfect-like narrative); परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
duḥkhitādistressed
duḥkhitā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootduḥkhita (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to sā)

Sūta (narrator) describing events to the sages

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

D
Deveśa
K
Kapardin (Śiva)
B
Brahmahatyā
P
Pātāla

FAQs

Indirectly: it portrays how the mere presence of divine lordship (Deveśa) and Kapardin (Śiva) dispels the force of grievous sin—suggesting a higher, purifying sovereignty beyond moral taint, toward which the self seeks refuge through dharma and devotion.

No technique is taught explicitly in this verse; its yogic implication is purification (śuddhi) through proximity to the Lord and adherence to dharma—an ethical foundation that later supports disciplines like Pāśupata-oriented restraint, devotion, and inner cleansing.

By placing Deveśa and Kapardin in a single purifying scene, the verse reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology: the divine presence—whether named through Śiva’s epithet or the lord of gods—functions harmoniously as a force that subdues adharma and removes impurity.