Shloka 5
Kārtika-Māhātmya
The Greatness of Kārtika
कृतस्य स्पर्द्धिनि युगे त्रेतान्ते द्वापरे युगे । व्यतीते जलदापाये निर्मले चांबरे गृहे ॥ ५ ॥
kṛtasya sparddhini yuge tretānte dvāpare yuge | vyatīte jaladāpāye nirmale cāṃbare gṛhe || 5 ||
In the competitive age of Kṛta, at the close of Tretā, and likewise in Dvāpara—when the rains had passed, the clouds had cleared, and the sky above the dwelling stood spotless and pure—this observance was performed.
Suta (narrating the Purana dialogue; verse is contextual/time-setting within the Mahatmya narration)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
The verse functions as a kāla-nirdeśa (time-indicator), stressing that sacred acts are strengthened when performed in a purified season—after the rains—when the environment is clear and conducive to sattva.
Indirectly, it frames bhakti-practices as disciplined observances: devotion is not only emotion but also orderly worship aligned with proper time (kāla), which supports steadiness and purity in worship.
It reflects Jyotiṣa/Vedic calendrical practice (kāla-nirṇaya): choosing an auspicious season (post-monsoon clarity) for rites, vratas, or tirtha-related observances mentioned in the surrounding Mahatmya.