Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 79
ऋते वै कार्तिकीमेकां पूजां सांवत्सरीं तव । करिष्यंति द्विजाः सर्वे सत्येनानेन ते शपे । एतद्बुद्ध्वा न कोपोस्तु हतो हन्ति न संशयः
ṛte vai kārtikīmekāṃ pūjāṃ sāṃvatsarīṃ tava | kariṣyaṃti dvijāḥ sarve satyenānena te śape | etadbuddhvā na kopostu hato hanti na saṃśayaḥ
«إلا عبادةً واحدةً سنويةً في شهر كارتيكا (Kārtika)، فإن جميع الدِّوِجَة (ذوي الميلادين) لن يعبدوا لك. وبهذه الحقيقة أقسم لك. فإذا علمتَ ذلك فلا غضب—فإن المضروب يضرب ردًّا، لا شكّ.»
Sāvitrī (continuation of the curse)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Naimiṣāraṇya ṛṣis (frame)
Scene: A solemn oath is spoken: brāhmaṇas with raised right hands affirm truth; a calendar marker of Kārtika (moon, lamps) is hinted; the speaker counsels restraint from anger, warning of inevitable retaliation.
FAQs
Kārtika is elevated as a uniquely meritorious time for worship; dharma also cautions against anger and retaliation cycles.
Prabhāsa-kṣetra frames the teaching, while the verse particularly glorifies the sacred month of Kārtika as a time of worship.
A specific allowance is given: Brahmā may receive a single annual worship (sāṃvatsarī pūjā) during the month of Kārtika.