Kurma Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Vārāṇasī (Avimukta) Māhātmya and the Catalogue of Guhya-Tīrthas

Devanagari script

कपालमोचनं तीर्थं ब्रह्महत्याविनाशनम् / शुक्रेश्वरं महापुण्यमानन्दपुरमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

kapālamocanaṃ tīrthaṃ brahmahatyāvināśanam / śukreśvaraṃ mahāpuṇyamānandapuramuttamam

Translation

May tīrtha na tinatawag na Kapālamocana, na pumupuksa sa kasalanan ng pagpatay sa brahmana; at naroon ang Śukreśvara, na lubhang dakila ang kabanalan; gayundin ang pinakadakilang banal na pook na tinatawag na Ānandapura.

Word by Word

• कपालमोचनम्: Kapālamocana (tīrtha; ‘skull-release’)
• कपालमोचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपाल-मोचन (प्रातिपदिक; कपाल + मोचन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• तीर्थम्: tīrtha
• तीर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• ब्रह्महत्याविनाशनम्: destroyer of brahma-hatyā (Brahmin-slaying sin)
• ब्रह्महत्याविनाशनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्महत्या-विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक; ब्रह्महत्या + विनाशन)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter; विशेषण

• शुक्रेश्वरम्: Śukreśvara (tīrtha/Śiva-name)
• शुक्रेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक; शुक्र + ईश्वर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular masculine

• महापुण्यम्: greatly meritorious, very holy
• महापुण्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा-पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक; महा + पुण्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter; विशेषण

• आनन्दपुरम्: Ānandapura (city/place)
• आनन्दपुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द-पुर (प्रातिपदिक; आनन्द + पुर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter

• उत्तमम्: excellent, best
• उत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular neuter; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Kurma Purana’s tirtha-mahatmya style narration)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Kapalamocana Tirtha
• Brahmahatya (sin)
• Shukreshvara (Shiva)
• Anandapura

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly, by presenting tirtha as a purifier of even grave sin, the verse reflects the Purana’s view that inner purification and restoration of dharmic clarity prepare the mind for Self-knowledge (Atman-realization), even when the verse itself is primarily geographical and expiatory.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes tīrtha-sevā and prāyaścitta (purificatory discipline). In Kurma Purana’s broader spiritual framework, such purification supports higher sādhanā—japa, worship of Īśvara (often Shiva), and the stabilizing of mind needed for Yoga and contemplative practice.

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

By listing a Shiva-site (Śukreśvara) within a Vaishnava Purana’s sacred geography, it models the Kurma Purana’s inclusive synthesis: pilgrimage and devotion to Shiva are upheld as fully valid within a Vishnu-centered narrative universe.