Shloka 36

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

एकतः सर्वदानानि दीपदानं हि चैकतः । कार्तिकेन समं प्रोक्तं दीपदानात्प्रबोधनम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

ekataḥ sarvadānāni dīpadānaṃ hi caikataḥ | kārtikena samaṃ proktaṃ dīpadānātprabodhanam || 36 ||

Translation

Auf der einen Seite stehen alle Arten von Wohltätigkeit, auf der anderen Seite allein die Gabe der Lampe. Es wird verkündet, dass das Erwecken von Verdienst und Heil durch das Darbringen von Licht dem Verdienst des ganzen Monats Kārtika gleichkommt.

Word by Word

• एकतः: on one side / in one case
• एकतः: अधिकरण (Adverbial/स्थान-भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• सर्वदानानि: all gifts/charities
• सर्वदानानि: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-दान (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + दान)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural), नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासः—तत्पुरुष

• दीपदानम्: lamp-offering
• दीपदानम्: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप-दान (प्रातिपदिक; दीप + दान)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासः—तत्पुरुष

• हि: indeed
• हि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• एकतः: on the other side / in another case
• एकतः: अधिकरण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• कार्तिकेन: with (the month of) Kārtika
• कार्तिकेन: सह/करण (Instrument/Association)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (month/personified)

• समम्: equally
• समम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) अर्थः—‘equally/at par’

• प्रोक्तम्: is declared
• प्रोक्तम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्प्रत्यय) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘is said/declared’

• दीपदानात्: than lamp-offering / from lamp-offering
• दीपदानात्: अपादान (Ablative comparison/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप-दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/पञ्चमी), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासः—तत्पुरुष

• प्रबोधनम्: lighting/awakening (kindling)
• प्रबोधनम्: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रबोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

Speaker

Narada (teaching within the Kārtika-vrata and dīpa-dāna context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kārtika-vrata (contextual)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Kartik (Kārtika-māsa)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It elevates dīpa-dāna (offering a lamp) as an exceptionally potent dharmic act, stating its fruit can equal the sanctifying merit associated with the whole of Kārtika—symbolizing inner awakening and the dispelling of ignorance.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By praising a simple, accessible offering (a lamp), the verse points to bhakti expressed through humble ritual service—light offered with reverence becomes a devotional act that awakens auspiciousness and spiritual clarity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual timing and vrata-practice are emphasized: the month of Kārtika is treated as a sacred calendar period for specific observances, showing applied dharma through proper kāla (time) selection and prescribed dāna.