Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 110

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

Devanagari script

एतद् वः कथितं पुण्यं महापातकनाशनम् / कपालमोचनं तीर्थं स्थाणोः प्रियकरं शुभम्

Transliteration

etad vaḥ kathitaṃ puṇyaṃ mahāpātakanāśanam / kapālamocanaṃ tīrthaṃ sthāṇoḥ priyakaraṃ śubham

Translation

Như vậy, ta đã kể cho các ngươi về bến thánh Kapālamocana—điềm lành, được Sthāṇu (Śiva) yêu quý, và có năng lực diệt trừ các đại tội (mahāpātaka).

Word by Word

• etat: this (teaching/statement)
• etat: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Napuṃsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā (प्रथमा) ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• vaḥ: of you / to you (your)
• vaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (युष्मद्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Ṣaṣṭhī (षष्ठी) bahuvacana; enclitic pronoun

• kathitam: told, narrated
• kathitam: Karma (कर्म/Predicate complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kath (कथ्-धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta past passive participle (क्त-प्रत्यय), Napuṃsaka, Prathamā ekavacana; agrees with etat

• puṇyam: meritorious, holy
• puṇyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā ekavacana; adjective qualifying etat

• mahā-pātaka-nāśanam: destroyer of great sins
• mahā-pātaka-nāśanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + pātaka (प्रातिपदिक) + nāśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: mahāpātakānāṃ nāśanam (destroyer of great sins)

• kapāla-mocanam: (the) Kapālamocana (place of skull-release)
• kapāla-mocanam: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to etat)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapāla (प्रातिपदिक) + mocana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: kapālasya mocanam (release from the skull/bowl)

• tīrtham: sacred ford/pilgrimage place
• tīrtham: Karta (कर्ता/Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tīrtha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā ekavacana; in apposition

• sthāṇoḥ: of Sthāṇu (Śiva)
• sthāṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī ekavacana

• priya-karam: pleasing, dear-making
• priya-karam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: priyaṃ karoti iti (that which makes dear/pleasing)

• śubham: auspicious
• śubham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka, Prathamā ekavacana; adjective

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic Sūta-style voice) addressing sages/assembly

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kapālamocana
• Sthāṇu (Śiva)
• tīrtha
• mahāpātaka

More Details (4 sections)

FAQs

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

This verse does not directly define Ātman; it emphasizes purificatory sacred geography—contact with a Śiva-beloved tīrtha is presented as a means of removing heavy karmic defilements.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific yogic technique is taught in this line; the practice implied is tīrtha-sevā (pilgrimage, ritual bathing, and reverent approach), framed as a dhārmic purification supportive of higher sādhana.

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

By praising a tīrtha as ‘dear to Sthāṇu (Śiva)’ within a Vaiṣṇava Purāṇa context, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s integrative stance—honoring Śiva’s sanctity as fully compatible with Purāṇic devotion and liberation-oriented practice.