Shloka 61

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

Devanagari script

दत्त्वासौ परमं योगमैश्वर्यमतुलं महत् / प्रोवाचाग्रे स्थितं देवं नीललोहितमीश्वरम्

Transliteration

dattvāsau paramaṃ yogamaiśvaryamatulaṃ mahat / provācāgre sthitaṃ devaṃ nīlalohitamīśvaram

Translation

అతనికి పరమయోగాన్ని, అలాగే అతులమైన మహా ఐశ్వర్యాన్ని ప్రసాదించి, తరువాత ముందర నిలిచిన దేవుడు నీలలోహిత పరమేశ్వరునితో పలికాడు।

Word by Word

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वक्रिया (having given)

• असौ: he (that one)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (that one/he)

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषण

• योगम्: yoga
• योगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ऐश्वर्यम्: lordly power
• ऐश्वर्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अतुलम्: incomparable
• अतुलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (irregular stem महत्)

• प्रोवाच: said
• प्रोवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अग्रे: in front
• अग्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-निभम्; सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण क्रियाविशेषण (locative used adverbially: in front/before)

• स्थितम्: standing
• स्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘स्थितं देवं’ इति विशेषण

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नील-लोहितम्: blue-and-red (complexioned)
• नील-लोहितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + लोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (blue and red) विशेषण

• ईश्वरम्: the Lord
• ईश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘देवम्’ इत्यस्य विशेष्य/अप्पोजिशन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic frame), describing the act of the divine teacher addressing Nīlalohita (Śiva)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Nīlalohita
• Īśvara
• Yoga
• Aiśvarya

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

By presenting “supreme Yoga” as a bestowed realization leading to “aiśvarya,” the verse implies that true sovereignty arises from God-realization—where the self is aligned with (or established in) Īśvara rather than bound by limited individuality.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse points to “parama-yoga” associated with Īśvara—consistent with the Kurma Purana’s Pāśupata-oriented discipline, where devotion, inner restraint, and contemplative union culminate in divine steadiness and spiritual mastery (aiśvarya).

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

By framing the supreme teaching of Yoga as culminating in direct address to Nīlalohita (Śiva) as Īśvara, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthetic vision: the highest reality is honored through Śiva-language while remaining compatible with Vaiṣṇava revelation, emphasizing unity rather than rivalry.