Kārtika-Māhātmya
The Greatness of Kārtika
तृप्तिर्न रसनातुल्या न समोऽन्यो द्विजेन च । न धर्मेण समं मित्रं न सत्येन समं यशः ॥ २१ ॥
tṛptirna rasanātulyā na samo'nyo dvijena ca | na dharmeṇa samaṃ mitraṃ na satyena samaṃ yaśaḥ || 21 ||
Keine Zufriedenheit ist der Zügelung von Gaumen und Sinnen gleich. Niemand ist einem wahren Brāhmaṇa vergleichbar. Kein Freund ist dem Dharma gleich, und kein Ruhm ist der Wahrheit (Satya) gleich.
Narada (didactic teaching in the Uttara-Bhaga context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
It ranks inner discipline and moral absolutes above external supports: sense-restraint brings real contentment, Dharma protects like a true companion, and Satya alone yields enduring honor.
Bhakti is stabilized by purity: controlling taste and desire supports sāttvika living, while Dharma and Satya make devotion trustworthy and steady, preventing hypocrisy in worship and vrata.
It points to śikṣā/ācāra-based discipline—especially restraint in speech and consumption—supporting correct mantra-recitation and ritual conduct through personal purity and truthfulness.