Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

तत्सन्निधाने सकलं नियच्छति सनातनः / कालः किल स योगात्मा कालकालो हि दृश्यते

Transliteration

tatsannidhāne sakalaṃ niyacchati sanātanaḥ / kālaḥ kila sa yogātmā kālakālo hi dṛśyate

Translation

Sa mismong presensya Niya, ang Walang-hanggang Panahon ay pumipigil at namamahala sa lahat. Tunay, ang Panahong yaon—na ang diwa ay Yoga—ay nakikitang “Panahon ng panahon,” ang sukdulang tagapag-ayos maging ng oras mismo.

Word by Word

• तत्: of that / in that
• तत्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; 'तत्' इति विशेषणरूपेण 'सन्निधाने' इत्यस्य

• सन्निधाने: in the presence
• सन्निधाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्निधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; स्थानवाचक

• सकलम्: everything / the whole
• सकलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• नियच्छति: restrains / controls
• नियच्छति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यम् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; उपसर्ग: नि-; अर्थ: नियमनं करोति

• सनातनः: the eternal one
• सनातनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• कालः: Time
• कालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• किल: indeed / it is said
• किल: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किल (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), प्रसिद्ध्यर्थ/श्रुत्यर्थ

• सः: he / that (one)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• योगात्मा: whose essence is yoga
• योगात्मा: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (योगस्य आत्मा = whose nature is yoga)

• कालकालः: the Time of time
• कालकालः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कालस्य कालः = the Time of time)

• हि: indeed / for
• हि: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• दृश्यते: is seen / appears
• दृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (passive/impersonal sense): 'is seen/appears'

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Purāṇic teaching to the sages), presenting the doctrine of the supreme Time-principle associated with the Lord

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Kāla (Time)
• Yoga (as the Lord’s integrative power)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

It presents the Supreme as the ground in whose presence even Kāla functions as an instrument of regulation—implying a transcendent Lord/Self beyond the cycles that Time governs.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

Yoga is framed as the Lord’s own nature (yogātmā): the inner power of integration and disciplined governance. Practically, it supports meditative absorption where the yogin contemplates the Lord as the regulator of mind, senses, and cosmic order.

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

By describing the supreme principle as yogātmā and kāla-kāla, the verse aligns with the Purāṇa’s non-sectarian synthesis: the highest Lord—revered as either Śiva or Viṣṇu—transcends and commands Time as the ultimate ruler.