Shloka 24
Kapālamocana: The Cutting of Brahmā’s Fifth Head, Śiva’s Kāpālika Vow, and Purification in Vārāṇasī
तन्मध्यसंस्थं विमलं मण्डलं तेजसोज्ज्वलम् / व्योममध्यगतं दिव्यं प्रादुरासीद् द्विजोत्तमाः
tanmadhyasaṃsthaṃ vimalaṃ maṇḍalaṃ tejasojjvalam / vyomamadhyagataṃ divyaṃ prādurāsīd dvijottamāḥ
அதன் நடுவே குற்றமற்ற வட்டமான மண்டலம் தோன்றியது; அது ஒளியால் ஜ்வலித்து, தெய்வீகமாய், வானத்தின் நடுவில் நிலைத்தது, ஓ இருபிறப்பில் சிறந்தோரே।
Narrator (Purāṇic storyteller addressing the sages/brāhmaṇas)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
By portraying a “spotless, radiant orb” appearing in the sky, the verse uses a contemplative symbol for pure consciousness—unstained (vimala) and self-luminous (tejas)—often employed in Purāṇic teaching to indicate the Atman/Brahman as revealing itself when conditions are ripe.
The imagery supports dhyāna (meditation) on inner light: a stable, circular focus (maṇḍala) that is pure and radiant. In the Kurma Purana’s broader yogic tenor (including Pāśupata-oriented discipline), such a sign aligns with ekāgratā (one-pointedness) and contemplation of the divine splendor as a gateway to steadiness of mind.
Rather than naming a sectarian deity, it emphasizes a single “divine” manifestation (divyam) of luminous purity—consistent with the Kurma Purana’s integrative approach where the supreme reality can be spoken of through shared symbols honored across Shaiva and Vaishnava frames.