Shloka 23
Kārtika-Māhātmya
The Greatness of Kārtika
कार्तिकः प्रवरो मासो विष्णोश्चापि प्रियः सदा । अव्रतो हि क्षिपेद्यस्तु मासं दामोदरप्रियम् ॥ २३ ॥
kārtikaḥ pravaro māso viṣṇoścāpi priyaḥ sadā | avrato hi kṣipedyastu māsaṃ dāmodarapriyam || 23 ||
Kārtika is the foremost of months and is always dear to Viṣṇu. But whoever lets pass this month—so beloved of Dāmodara—without observing vows (vrata) truly wastes it.
Narada (teaching within the Kārtika-māhātmya context of Uttara-bhāga)
Vrata: Kārtika-vrata (Dāmodara-māsa observance)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It declares Kārtika as the श्रेष्ठ (foremost) month for Viṣṇu-bhakti and warns that neglecting Kārtika-vrata means losing a uniquely sacred opportunity for merit and devotion.
Bhakti here is expressed through time-bound devotion: honoring what is dear to Viṣṇu—especially the Dāmodara-priya Kārtika month—by taking vrata/niyama and engaging in dedicated worship rather than letting the month pass casually.
It emphasizes ritual discipline and calendrical observance (kāla-niyama): recognizing Kārtika as a sacred period and applying vrata-practice accordingly—an applied dharma framework rather than a technical śikṣā/vyākaraṇa discussion.