Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

सामवेद उवाच येनेदं भ्राम्यते चक्रं यदाकाशान्तरं शिवम् / योगिभिर्विद्यते तत्त्वं महादेवः स शङ्करः

Transliteration

sāmaveda uvāca yenedaṃ bhrāmyate cakraṃ yadākāśāntaraṃ śivam / yogibhirvidyate tattvaṃ mahādevaḥ sa śaṅkaraḥ

Translation

Wika ng Sāmaveda: Siya na nagpapagalaw sa gulong ng sansinukob, at ang mapalad na Katotohanan sa kalawakan—ang tadhanang nalalasap ng mga yogi—Siya ang Mahādeva, Siya ang Śaṅkara.

Word by Word

• सामवेदः: Sāmaveda (personified)
• सामवेदः: Karta (कर्ता/वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामवेद (प्रातिपदिक; सामन् + वेद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• येन: by which
• येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• भ्राम्यते: is made to revolve / revolves
• भ्राम्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (passive/intransitive sense)

• चक्रम्: wheel, cycle
• चक्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• आकाश-अन्तरम्: the space within the sky / the inner expanse
• आकाश-अन्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• शिवम्: auspicious; Śiva-like
• शिवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• योगिभिः: by yogis
• योगिभिः: Kartr̥ (कर्ता/ज्ञाता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• विद्यते: is known
• विद्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• तत्त्वम्: the principle; reality
• तत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• महादेवः: Mahādeva
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• शङ्करः: Śaṅkara
• शङ्करः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/प्रेडिकेट-नाउन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sāmaveda (personified Veda, praising Śiva)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Sāmaveda
• Śiva
• Mahādeva
• Śaṅkara
• Yogins

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It identifies the highest Reality (tattva) as that which yogins directly realize, describing it as the inner, auspicious principle pervading even space—named here as Mahādeva/Śaṅkara.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes yogic realization (yogibhir vidyate) rather than ritual alone—pointing to contemplative insight into the tattva that governs the cosmic cycle (cakra), consistent with Pāśupata-oriented inner discipline in the Ishvara-Gītā context.

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

By presenting Śiva as the supreme tattva that sustains cosmic order and is known through yoga, it supports the Kurma Purana’s synthetic theology where the supreme Lord is one reality praised through different divine names, harmonizing Shaiva and Vaishnava devotion.