Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

तस्यैवं मन्यमानस्य जज्ञे नारायणांशजः / प्रोवाच प्रहसन् वाक्यं रोषताम्रविलोचनः

Transliteration

tasyaivaṃ manyamānasya jajñe nārāyaṇāṃśajaḥ / provāca prahasan vākyaṃ roṣatāmravilocanaḥ

Translation

وہ اسی گمان میں تھا کہ نارائن کے اَمش سے ایک ہستی ظاہر ہوئی؛ ہلکی مسکراہٹ کے ساتھ اس نے کلام کیا—غصّے سے اس کی آنکھیں تانبئی سرخ تھیں۔

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• मन्यमानस्य: of (him) thinking
• मन्यमानस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive absolute-like: ‘while he was thinking’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) → मन्यमान (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय, वर्तमानकाले)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच् (present middle participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘thinking/considering’

• जज्ञे: was born/arose
• जज्ञे: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नारायण-अंश-जः: one born from a portion of Nārāyaṇa
• नारायण-अंश-जः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject of jajñe)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नारायणस्य अंशः; तस्मात् जातः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• प्रोवाच: said/spoke forth
• प्रोवाच: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• प्रहसन्: smiling
• प्रहसन्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of speaker)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + हस् (धातु) → प्रहसत् (शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘smiling/laughing’

• वाक्यम्: a statement/words
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (accusative), एकवचन

• रोष-ताम्र-विलोचनः: one whose eyes were copper-red with anger
• रोष-ताम्र-विलोचनः: प्रथमा-सम्बन्ध (Apposition/Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोष (प्रातिपदिक) + ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विलोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (descriptive: ‘with eyes copper-red due to anger’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the scene); the next speech is by the nārāyaṇāṁśajaḥ.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Nārāyaṇāṁśaja (partial manifestation of Vishnu)

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

It implies the Supreme (Nārāyaṇa) can project a conscious “portion” (aṁśa) to intervene in the world, showing transcendence with immanent guidance—Atman/Iśvara remains one yet appears many for dharma.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No direct technique is stated; the verse sets a moral-yogic frame: prideful mental construction (manyamāna) is checked by divine instruction, aligning with Purāṇic yoga where inner humility and self-restraint precede higher practice.

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

By foregrounding Nārāyaṇa’s manifesting power within a Kurma Purana context known for Shaiva-Vaishnava synthesis, it supports the Purāṇic non-sectarian view: the same Supreme guides beings through different divine forms to restore dharma.