Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 49
Kapālamocana: The Cutting of Brahmā’s Fifth Head, Śiva’s Kāpālika Vow, and Purification in Vārāṇasī
सो ऽनुवीक्ष्य महादेवं महादेव्या सनातनम् / वरासने समासीनमवाप परमां स्मृतिम्
so 'nuvīkṣya mahādevaṃ mahādevyā sanātanam / varāsane samāsīnamavāpa paramāṃ smṛtim
Sau khi chiêm bái Mahādeva—Đấng vĩnh hằng—cùng Mahādevī, an tọa trên bảo tòa tối thắng, người ấy đạt được niệm tưởng tối thượng, tức sự tỉnh giác linh thiêng cao nhất.
Narrator (Purāṇic narration, traditionally Sūta/Vyāsa’s discourse framework)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
By stating that the mere darśana of the eternal Mahādeva (with Śakti) yields “paramā smṛti,” the verse implies that liberation-oriented knowledge is a re-awakening of one’s highest inner awareness—an Atman-level recognition rather than new information.
The verse foregrounds darśana and contemplative seeing (anuvīkṣaṇa) as a yogic catalyst: focused reverent perception of Īśvara leads to stabilized remembrance (smṛti), a key meditative factor that supports dhyāna and deeper absorption.
While naming Śiva (Mahādeva) with Mahādevī, the Kurma Purana’s broader synthesis treats such divine vision as a direct means to supreme realization—consistent with its non-sectarian stance where devotion to the highest Īśvara (whether spoken of as Śiva or Viṣṇu) culminates in the same awakened wisdom.