Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

स मायया महेशस्य मोहितो लोकसंभवः / अविज्ञाय परं भावं स्वात्मानं प्राह धर्षिणम्

Transliteration

sa māyayā maheśasya mohito lokasaṃbhavaḥ / avijñāya paraṃ bhāvaṃ svātmānaṃ prāha dharṣiṇam

Translation

مہیش کی مایا سے فریفتہ عالموں کا پدید آور، حقیقتِ اعلیٰ کو نہ پہچان کر، اپنے ہی نفس کے بارے میں گستاخانہ بول اٹھا۔

Word by Word

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

• मायया: by (the) māyā
• मायया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; करण/हेतु

• महेशस्य: of Maheśa
• महेशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (whose māyā)

• मोहितः: deluded
• मोहितः: Kriyā (क्रिया-विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुह् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सः इत्यस्य विधेय

• लोक-सम्भवः: the originator of the worlds
• लोक-सम्भवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सः इत्यस्य समानाधिकरण (epithet)

• अविज्ञाय: not knowing / without realizing
• अविज्ञाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अ + वि + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive); नञ्-उपसर्गयुक्त; क्रियाविशेषणभावेन

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भावम् इति विशेषण

• भावम्: state/nature
• भावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मपद (अविज्ञाय)

• स्व-आत्मानम्: his own self
• स्व-आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मपद (प्राह)

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘प्र + आह’

• धर्षिणम्: bold/arrogant
• धर्षिणम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; स्वात्मानम् इति विशेषण (as predicate/apposition)

Speaker

Narrator (Purana narrator in the Kurma Purana’s discourse framework)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Mahesha (Shiva)
• Maya
• Lokasambhava (cosmic progenitor)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies that the Supreme Reality (para-bhāva) is distinct from egoic self-assertion; when one fails to discern that higher truth, even a cosmic being can mistake the limited self for the ultimate.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse foregrounds viveka (discernment) and the overcoming of māyā and ahaṅkāra (ego)—foundational inner disciplines that support Shaiva-Pāśupata and broader yogic practice in the Kurma Purana’s teaching style.

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

By presenting Maheśa’s māyā as a cosmic power that can delude even the world-originator, the text emphasizes a shared, non-sectarian metaphysics where divine powers operate within one supreme order rather than competing deities.