Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

एवं विवदतोर्मोहात् परस्परजयैषिणोः / आजग्मुर्यत्र तौ देवौ वेदाश्चत्वार एव हि

Transliteration

evaṃ vivadatormohāt parasparajayaiṣiṇoḥ / ājagmuryatra tau devau vedāścatvāra eva hi

Translation

于是，那两位神祇因迷妄而争辩，各自求胜不休；就在他们争论之处，四部吠陀确实来到了那里。

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• विवदतोः: of the two disputing
• विवदतोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवदत् (कृदन्त; √वद् धातु, वि-उपसर्ग)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ); पुंलिङ्ग, द्विवचन, षष्ठी (Genitive Dual)

• मोहात्: from delusion
• मोहात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, पञ्चमी (Ablative Singular)

• परस्पर-जय-एषिणोः: of the two seeking each other’s victory (i.e., to defeat the other)
• परस्पर-जय-एषिणोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परस्पर (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + जय (प्रातिपदिक) + एषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध: ‘परस्परस्य जयम् एषिणौ’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्विवचन, षष्ठी (Genitive Dual)

• आजग्मुः: came
• आजग्मुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (3rd person plural)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय/सम्बन्ध (relative adverb: where)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, द्विवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative Dual)

• देवौ: two gods
• देवौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्विवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative Dual)

• वेदाः: the Vedas
• वेदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative Plural)

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; पुंलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative Plural)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

Speaker

Purana-narrator (Suta/Vyasa tradition) describing events

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Four Vedas

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: it shows that delusion (moha) fuels conflict even among exalted beings, while Vedic wisdom represents the higher discerning knowledge that dispels ignorance—an essential condition for realizing the Self beyond rivalry and ego.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

No specific technique is named, but the verse implies the Yogic principle of overcoming moha and victory-seeking (ahaṃkāra-driven impulse). In Kurma Purana’s broader teaching, such purification supports disciplined practice—restraint, clarity, and scriptural alignment—central to Pashupata-oriented spiritual training.

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

By portraying “two deities” caught in delusion and then bringing in the Vedas as the harmonizing authority, the text leans toward reconciliation through higher dharma—consistent with the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis where sectarian rivalry is subordinated to Vedic truth.