Shloka 58

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

चाण्डालो जायते देवि कार्तिके मांसभक्षणात् । कार्तिकः सर्वपापघ्नः किञ्चिद्व्रतधरस्य हि ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

cāṇḍālo jāyate devi kārtike māṃsabhakṣaṇāt | kārtikaḥ sarvapāpaghnaḥ kiñcidvratadharasya hi || 58 ||

Translation

O Göttin, durch Fleischessen im Monat Kārtika wird man zu einem Caṇḍāla. Denn Kārtika vernichtet alle Sünden nur bei dem, der auch nur ein kleines Gelübde (vrata) hält.

Word by Word

• चाण्डालः: a caṇḍāla (outcaste)
• चाण्डालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• जायते: is born
• जायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• देवि: O Goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• कार्तिके: in Kārtika
• कार्तिके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• मांस-भक्षणात्: due to eating meat
• मांस-भक्षणात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/हेतु), एकवचन; ‘मांसस्य भक्षणम्’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; हेतु-अर्थे पञ्चमी

• कार्तिकः: Kārtika (month)
• कार्तिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; मास-नाम (personified/treated as subject)

• सर्व-पाप-घ्नः: destroyer of all sins
• सर्व-पाप-घ्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (हन् धातु, क्विप्/णिनि-सम्भव; प्रातिपदिक ‘slayer’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘सर्वाणि पापानि हन्ति’ इति बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रचलितः, परन्तु रूपेण उपपद-तत्पुरुष (घ्न-समास)

• किञ्चित्: even a little
• किञ्चित्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयुक्तं सर्वनाम; परिमाणवाचक (somewhat/a little)

• व्रत-धरस्य: of one who observes a vow
• व्रत-धरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (धृ धातु, अच्-प्रत्यय; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; ‘व्रतं धरति’ इति उपपद-तत्पुरुष; षष्ठी = of the observer

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

Speaker

Narada (teaching the Mahatmya of Kārtika-vrata; addressed to Devi within the cited verse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kartika-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Kartika (month)

FAQs

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

It teaches that Kārtika is spiritually potent, but its sin-destroying power bears fruit only when supported by niyama (self-restraint) and vrata; violating core restraints like meat-eating is portrayed as spiritually degrading.

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

Bhakti is framed as disciplined devotion: honoring a sacred month through even a modest vow aligns conduct with sacred intent, making devotional merit effective rather than merely nominal.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa-style ritual discipline is implied: observing month-based vratas, following dietary niyamas, and understanding that prescribed observances (vidhi/niyama) condition the result of religious practice.