Shloka 13
Kapālamocana: The Cutting of Brahmā’s Fifth Head, Śiva’s Kāpālika Vow, and Purification in Vārāṇasī
ऋग्वेद उवाच यस्यान्तः स्थानि भूतानि यस्मात्सर्वं प्रवर्तते / यदाहुस्तत्परं तत्त्वं स देवः स्यान्महेश्वरः
ṛgveda uvāca yasyāntaḥ sthāni bhūtāni yasmātsarvaṃ pravartate / yadāhustatparaṃ tattvaṃ sa devaḥ syānmaheśvaraḥ
ரிக் வேதம் கூறியது—யாரின் உள்ளே எல்லா உயிர்களும் நிலைகொள்கின்றன, யாரிடமிருந்து அனைத்தும் தோன்றிப் பாய்கின்றன; ஞானிகள் ‘பரமத் தத்துவம்’ எனச் சொல்வது—அந்தத் தேவனே மகேஸ்வரன்.
Ṛgveda (personified Vedic revelation) within the Kurma Purana’s discourse
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It defines the Supreme as the inner ground in which all beings abide and the causal source from which all activity and manifestation proceed—identified here with Maheśvara as the highest tattva.
This verse is primarily a tattva-lakṣaṇa (definition of the Supreme): it supports meditation on Īśvara as the indwelling and originating reality (antar-yāmin and jagad-yoni), a key contemplative basis used in Pāśupata-oriented devotion and inner recollection (smaraṇa/dhyāna).
By grounding Maheśvara’s supremacy in Vedic revelation, the Kurma Purana advances a synthesis where the Supreme is one reality (parama-tattva) spoken of in multiple divine forms—supporting non-sectarian, unity-oriented Purāṇic theology.