Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

यस्याशेषजगत्सूतिर्विज्ञानतनुरीश्वरी / न मुञ्चति सदा पार्श्वं शङ्करो ऽसावदृश्यत

Transliteration

yasyāśeṣajagatsūtirvijñānatanurīśvarī / na muñcati sadā pārśvaṃ śaṅkaro 'sāvadṛśyata

Translation

彼被观为商羯罗（Śaṅkara）——那位身旁从不被离弃、哪怕一刹那也不曾分离的主；其侧常伴者为至上女神，身即纯净觉知，且为一切世界之源。

Word by Word

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन, पुं/नपुंसक

• अशेष-जगत्-सूतिः: the generation of the entire world
• अशेष-जगत्-सूतिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + सूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अशेषस्य जगतः सूतिः = birth/production of the entire world)

• विज्ञान-तनुः: whose body is knowledge
• विज्ञान-तनुः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (विज्ञानस्य तनुः = whose body is knowledge)

• ईश्वरी: the Goddess/sovereign lady
• ईश्वरी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: निपात (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—निषेध-निपात (negative particle)

• मुञ्चति: releases/lets go
• मुञ्चति: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• पार्श्वम्: side
• पार्श्वम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• शङ्करः: Śaṅkara
• शङ्करः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• असौ: that (he)
• असौ: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; निर्देशार्थ

• अदृश्यत: was seen/appeared
• अदृश्यत: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे (was seen/appeared)

Speaker

Purāṇic narrator (contextual description within the Kurma Purana’s Shaiva–Vaishnava synthesis)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• Īśvarī (the Goddess/Śakti)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By describing the Goddess as “vijñāna-tanu” (constituted of consciousness) and as the source of all worlds, the verse points to ultimate reality as consciousness itself, manifesting as cosmic power (Śakti) inseparable from Śiva.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse is doctrinal rather than procedural, but it supports a contemplative Yoga stance: meditation on Īśvara as non-dual—Śiva never separate from Śakti—so the yogin internalizes creation, power, and awareness as one integrated reality.

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

Indirectly, it advances the Kurma Purana’s reconciliatory theology: the supreme is understood through Śiva–Śakti unity, which the Purana often harmonizes with Vaiṣṇava frames as different names/forms of one Īśvara, aiding Shiva–Vishnu unity in Purāṇic teaching.