Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 108

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

Devanagari script

इतीदमुक्त्वा भगवान् समालिङ्ग्य जनार्दनम् / सहैव प्रमथेशानैः क्षणादन्तरधीयत

Transliteration

itīdamuktvā bhagavān samāliṅgya janārdanam / sahaiva pramatheśānaiḥ kṣaṇādantaradhīyata

Translation

یوں فرما کر بھگوان نے جناردن کو گلے لگایا؛ اور پرمَتھوں کے سرداروں سمیت وہ ایک ہی لمحے میں نظروں سے اوجھل ہو گئے۔

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (quotative particle)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• समालिङ्ग्य: having embraced
• समालिङ्ग्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लिङ्ग् (धातु) + सम्-आ- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• जनार्दनम्: Janārdana (Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa)
• जनार्दनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनार्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (preposition-like), 'with'

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle/emphasis)

• प्रमथेशानैः: with the lords of the Pramathas
• प्रमथेशानैः: Sahakari/Karana (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमथ + ईशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्रमथानाम् ईशानाः), पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन

• क्षणात्: in a moment
• क्षणात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case), एकवचन; अपादान (from)

• अन्तरधीयत: disappeared
• अन्तरधीयत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु) + अन्तर् (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धीयत = धा-धातोः आत्मनेपद-लङ्

Speaker

Shiva (Mahadeva), departing after addressing Vishnu (Janardana)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavan
• Janardana (Vishnu)
• Pramathas

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By portraying Śiva and Janārdana in intimate concord, the verse points to a single supreme reality expressed through multiple divine forms—an implicit non-sectarian vision where the One is approached through complementary manifestations.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is prescribed in this line; instead, it underscores the yogic principle of antar-dhāna (withdrawal from perception), suggesting mastery over manifestation and concealment—an idea resonant with Śaiva yogic siddhi themes found around Pāśupata-oriented teachings.

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

The embrace and immediate disappearance with Śiva’s attendants depicts harmony rather than rivalry: Śiva honors Janārdana, reinforcing the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava unity and its integrative theology.