Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 74

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

Devanagari script

आस्थाय विकृतं वेषं दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा / श्रीमत् पवित्रमतुलं जटाजूटविराजितम्

Transliteration

āsthāya vikṛtaṃ veṣaṃ dīpyamānaṃ svatejasā / śrīmat pavitramatulaṃ jaṭājūṭavirājitam

Translation

Ngài khoác lấy một hình tướng khác thường, rực cháy bằng chính quang lực tự thân—vinh hiển, tối thượng thanh tịnh, vô song—và được điểm trang bởi búi tóc jata chói ngời.

Word by Word

• आस्थाय: having assumed
• आस्थाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā+sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund); 'having assumed/taken up'

• विकृतम्: distorted / strange
• विकृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of वेषम्)

• वेषम्: guise / attire
• वेषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दीप्यमानम्: shining
• दीप्यमानम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīp (धातु)
• Form: शतृ/शानच्-वर्तमान कृदन्त (Present Participle, Ātmanepada sense); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of वेषम्)

• स्वतेजसा: by his own radiance
• स्वतेजसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva+tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—'स्वस्य तेजसा' (by his own splendor)

• श्रीमत्: splendid / illustrious
• श्रीमत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of वेषम्)

• पवित्रम्: pure / sacred
• पवित्रम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pavitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of वेषम्)

• अतुलम्: incomparable
• अतुलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-tula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-प्रत्यय (negation); विशेषण (of वेषम्)

• जटाजूटविराजितम्: adorned with a mass of matted hair
• जटाजूटविराजितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaṭā+jūṭa+virājita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः; 'जटाजूटेन विराजितम्'—विराजित (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, adorned)

Speaker

Narrator (Purana-samvada frame), describing the divine appearance

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu (as a radiant ascetic form)
• Shaiva ascetic markers (jaṭā)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By stressing “svatejasā” (self-born radiance), the verse hints that the Supreme is self-luminous and not dependent on external supports—appearing in any form while remaining intrinsically pure and incomparable.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The imagery of ascetic attire and jaṭā evokes tapas and yogic discipline—outer renunciation mirroring inner concentration—where spiritual power (tejas) arises from restraint, purity, and sustained practice.

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

Vishnu’s appearance with Shaiva ascetic markers (jaṭā) signals the Kurma Purana’s integrative theology: one Supreme reality adopts forms associated with both Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions, emphasizing unity rather than sectarian division.