Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

जानामि भवतः पूर्वं ललाटादेव शङ्कर / प्रादुर्भावं महेशान् मामेव शरणं व्रज

Transliteration

jānāmi bhavataḥ pūrvaṃ lalāṭādeva śaṅkara / prādurbhāvaṃ maheśān māmeva śaraṇaṃ vraja

Translation

اے شنکر، میں تمہاری پہلی تجلّی کو جانتا ہوں—تم پیشانی ہی سے ظاہر ہوئے تھے۔ اے مہیشان، صرف میری ہی پناہ اختیار کرو۔

Word by Word

• जानामि: I know
• जानामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• भवतः: of you
• भवतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; आदरार्थ-प्रयोग (honorific pronoun)

• पूर्वम्: formerly / earlier
• पूर्वम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): कालवाचक (temporal)

• ललाटात्: from the forehead
• ललाटात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललाट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) अवधारणार्थक (emphatic)

• शङ्कर: O Śaṅkara
• शङ्कर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• प्रादुर्भावम्: manifestation/appearance
• प्रादुर्भावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रादुर्भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• महेशान्: O Maheśa
• महेशान्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; दीर्घ-आदेश/छन्दसि रूपम् (vocative)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: alone/indeed
• एव: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) अवधारणार्थक

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे द्वितीया (accusative of goal)

• व्रज: go/seek
• व्रज: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (as the Supreme refuge, addressing Shiva)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shankara (Shiva)
• Maheshana (Shiva)
• Supreme Lord (as 'mām'—the speaker)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By commanding even Maheśāna (Śiva) to take refuge in “Me alone,” the verse frames the Supreme as the ultimate ground of all divine manifestations—implying a highest Ishvara/Atman beyond sectarian distinction.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) as a core spiritual discipline—an inward turning of the will to the Supreme Lord, supporting steadiness of mind (yoga) and devotion-centered contemplation.

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

It presents a hierarchy of refuge rather than rivalry: Śiva is revered (Śaṅkara/Maheśāna) yet directed toward the same Supreme source, reflecting the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis.