Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 94

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

Devanagari script

समाहूय हृषीकेशो ब्रह्महत्यामथाच्युतः / प्रार्थयामास देवेशो विमुञ्चेति त्रिशूलिनम्

Transliteration

samāhūya hṛṣīkeśo brahmahatyāmathācyutaḥ / prārthayāmāsa deveśo vimuñceti triśūlinam

Translation

随后，赫利希凯沙——不失不坠的阿周陀——召来具形之“梵杀罪”（Brahmahatyā），并恳求持三叉戟的主三戟者（Triśūlin）道：“请解除我此罪。”

Word by Word

• समाहूय: having summoned
• समाहूय: पूर्वकालक्रिया (Absolutive/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-ह्वे (धातु) + ल्यप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/ल्यप्), ‘having summoned/called together’

• हृषीकेशः: Hṛṣīkeśa (Lord of the senses)
• हृषीकेशः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृषीक-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (hṛṣīkāṇām īśaḥ)

• ब्रह्महत्याम्: Brahmin-slaying (sin/personified)
• ब्रह्महत्याम्: कर्म (Karman/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म-हत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः (brahmaṇaḥ hatyā)

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्धसूचक (Discourse adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

• अच्युतः: Acyuta
• अच्युतः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); हृषीकेशः इति विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• प्रार्थयामास: entreated, requested
• प्रार्थयामास: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; causative sense not intended here (simple ‘entreated’)

• देवेशः: Lord of the gods
• देवेशः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (devānām īśaḥ)

• विमुञ्च: release, let go
• विमुञ्च: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरण (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• त्रिशूलिनम्: the trident-bearer (Śiva)
• त्रिशूलिनम्: सम्प्रदान/कर्म (Addressee/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि-शूलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः (triśūlam asya asti/धारयति—‘trident-bearer’, conventional epithet)

Speaker

Narrator (Purana voice, describing Vishnu’s act of supplication to Shiva)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Hṛṣīkeśa (Vishnu)
• Acyuta (Vishnu)
• Brahmahatyā (personified sin)
• Triśūlin (Shiva)
• Deveśa (Lord of the gods)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By showing Vishnu (Hṛṣīkeśa/Acyuta) praying to Shiva (Triśūlin) for release, the verse reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: the Supreme is one reality approached through multiple divine forms, and liberation/purification is ultimately governed by that one Lordship.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

The verse implies the discipline of śaraṇāgati (humble surrender) and prārthanā (devotional supplication) as purificatory practices—inner yoga of repentance and reliance on Īśvara—consistent with Pāśupata-oriented purification themes found in the Kurma Purana.

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

It depicts functional non-dual reverence: Vishnu petitions Shiva for the removal of Brahmahatyā, underscoring mutual exaltation and theological unity (Shaiva–Vaishnava harmony) characteristic of the Kurma Purana.