Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

भुजङ्गराजवलयं चन्द्रावयवभूषणम् / कोटिसूर्यप्रतीकाशं जटाजूटविराजितम्

Transliteration

bhujaṅgarājavalayaṃ candrāvayavabhūṣaṇam / koṭisūryapratīkāśaṃ jaṭājūṭavirājitam

Translation

நாகராஜன் வளையமும் சந்திரக்கலா அலங்காரமும் அணிந்து, கோடி சூரியர் போல் ஒளிர்ந்து, ஜடாமுடியால் அவர் பிரகாசிக்கிறார்.

Word by Word

• भुजङ्गराज-वलयम्: having a serpent-king as bracelet
• भुजङ्गराज-वलयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुजङ्गराज (प्रातिपदिक) + वलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भुजङ्गराजस्य वलयम्) विशेषणरूपेण

• चन्द्र-अवयव-भूषणम्: adorned with the moon as an ornament
• चन्द्र-अवयव-भूषणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अवयव (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषार्थः ‘चन्द्रस्य अवयवः’ इव भूषणम् / ‘चन्द्रावयवेन भूषणम्’ (ornamented with the moon as an adornment)

• कोटि-सूर्य-प्रतीकाशम्: shining like ten million suns
• कोटि-सूर्य-प्रतीकाशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतीकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कोटिसूर्याणां प्रतीकाशः)

• जटा-जूट-विराजितम्: resplendent with a mass of matted locks
• जटा-जूट-विराजितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटा (प्रातिपदिक) + जूट (प्रातिपदिक) + वि-राज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP) ‘विराजित’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषार्थः ‘जटाजूटेन विराजितम्’

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) describing Śiva for meditation (Śiva-dhyāna) within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Mahadeva/Rudra)
• Chandra (Moon)
• Nāgarāja (Serpent-king)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying the Lord as possessing an immeasurable, sun-like radiance, the verse points to Īśvara as the luminous ground of awareness—transcendent yet approachable through sacred form (saguṇa) for realization of the Self.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It functions as a dhyāna-śloka: the practitioner steadies mind (dhāraṇā) by contemplating Śiva’s marks—serpent ornament, crescent moon, and jaṭā—supporting Pāśupata-oriented devotion and concentration leading toward inner stillness.

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

With Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) teaching a Śiva-focused meditation, the Purāṇa models non-sectarian unity: devotion to Śiva is presented as fully compatible with Vaiṣṇava revelation, emphasizing one Īśvara honored through complementary names and forms.