Varaha Purana 97.47: Adhyaya 97, Shloka 47

The Glory of Rudra: The Origin of the Kapālamocana Pilgrimage Site and Rudra’s Expiatory Vow

Devanagari script

कपालमोचनं नाम ततस्तीर्थमनुत्तमम् ॥ पृथिव्यां ख्यातिमगमद्वाराणस्यां धराधरे

Sanskrit recitationVaraha Purana 97.47

Transliteration

kapālamocanaṃ nāma tatas tīrtham anuttamam || pṛthivyāṃ khyātim agamad vārāṇasyāṃ dharādhare

Translation

ต่อมามีทิรถะอันยอดยิ่งชื่อว่า “กปาลโมจน” และได้มีชื่อเสียงไปทั่วแผ่นดิน—ณ พาราณสี บนธราธร (ภูเขาผู้ค้ำจุนแผ่นดิน)

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Word by Word

• कपालमोचनम्: (the tīrtha called) Kapālamocana
• कपालमोचनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल (प्रातिपदिक) + मोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कपालस्य मोचनम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नाम: by name/called
• नाम: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, नामनिर्देशक निपात (particle indicating name)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण — ‘then/thereupon’

• तीर्थम्: sacred ford/pilgrimage place
• तीर्थम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed/excellent
• अनुत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (तीर्थम्)

• पृथिव्याम्: on earth
• पृथिव्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• ख्यातिम्: fame/renown
• ख्यातिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख्याति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• अगमत्: attained/reached
• अगमत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• वाराणस्याम्: in Vārāṇasī
• वाराणस्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराणसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• धराधरे: on the mountain/at the hill
• धराधरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धराधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (धरां धरतीति/धराधरः = पर्वतः), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

Speaker

Varāha (default dialogue framework; sacred geography narration)

Tags

• Ancient Geography
• Vārāṇasī Heritage
• Tīrtha Mahātmya
• Śaiva Sacred Sites

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It anchors a named tīrtha (Kapālamocana) within Vārāṇasī’s sacred landscape, contributing to the historical layering of the city’s pilgrimage toponyms in Sanskrit literature.

Which geographic location is identified?

Vārāṇasī (Kāśī/Benares), a major North Indian heritage city; Kapālamocana is presented as a specific tīrtha associated with it.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

The tīrtha framework encodes an ethic of purification and accountability—actions and their consequences are addressed through disciplined rites and recognized heritage sites.