Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

स कृत्वा सुमहद् युद्धं ब्रह्मणा कालभैरवः / चकर्त तस्य वदनं विरिञ्चस्याथ पञ्चमम्

Transliteration

sa kṛtvā sumahad yuddhaṃ brahmaṇā kālabhairavaḥ / cakarta tasya vadanaṃ viriñcasyātha pañcamam

Translation

பிரம்மாவுடன் மிகப் பெரிய போரை நடத்தி, காலபைரவன் விரிஞ்சி (பிரம்மா) யின் ஐந்தாம் முகத்தை வெட்டினான்.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having done’

• सु-महत्: very great
• सु-महत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + सु- (उपसर्ग/प्रत्ययवत् उपसर्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• कालभैरवः: Kālabhairava
• कालभैरवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + भैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कालस्य भैरवः)

• चकर्त: he cut off / he severed
• चकर्त: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वदनम्: face
• वदनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विरिञ्चस्य: of Viriñca (Brahmā)
• विरिञ्चस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरिञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/समुच्चयार्थक (then/thereupon)

• पञ्चमम्: the fifth
• पञ्चमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषण (ordinal adjective)

Speaker

Sūta (Purāṇic narrator) describing the event in the Kurma Purana narrative

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Kālabhairava
• Brahmā (Viriñci)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it portrays the restoration of cosmic order by a divine power; the Atman/Iśvara principle is implied as the transcendent regulator that subdues egoic excess (symbolized by Brahmā’s fifth head).

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No explicit yogic technique is taught in this verse; its practical takeaway aligns with Pāśupata-Śaiva ethics—mastery over pride and adherence to dharma as prerequisites for higher yogic discipline.

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

The verse foregrounds a Śaiva episode (Kālabhairava) within the Kurma Purana’s broader integrative theology, where sectarian narratives function within a unified dharmic cosmos rather than contradicting a single Supreme.