Shloka 59

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

कार्तिके तु कृतादीक्षा नृणां जन्मनिकृंतनी । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन दीक्षां कुर्वीत कार्तिके ॥ ५९ ॥

Transliteration

kārtike tu kṛtādīkṣā nṛṇāṃ janmanikṛṃtanī | tasmātsarvaprayatnena dīkṣāṃ kurvīta kārtike || 59 ||

Translation

La dīkṣā (iniciación) realizada en el mes de Kārtika corta, para los seres humanos, el lazo de los nacimientos repetidos. Por ello, con todo empeño, debe uno recibir dīkṣā en Kārtika.

Word by Word

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

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• कृत-दीक्षा: undertaken initiation/vow
• कृत-दीक्षा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय; कृदन्त) + दीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘कृता दीक्षा’ (a performed/undertaken initiation/vow)

• नृणाम्: of men; of people
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• जन्म-निकृन्तनी: that which cuts off (re)birth
• जन्म-निकृन्तनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + निकृन्तनी (कृन्त् धातु, णी-प्रत्ययान्त स्त्रीप्रातिपदिक; ‘cutter’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘जन्म (पुनर्जन्म) निकृन्तयति’ इति उपपद-तत्पुरुष; दीक्षा इति विशेषण

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रयोगः; पञ्चमी-एकवचन रूपेण अव्ययवत् ‘therefore/from that reason’

• सर्व-प्रयत्नेन: with all effort
• सर्व-प्रयत्नेन: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; तृतीया-एकवचन रूपेण क्रियाविशेषण—‘सर्वेण प्रयत्नेन’ (with all effort)

• दीक्षाम्: initiation; vow-observance
• दीक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• कुर्वीत: should do; should undertake
• कुर्वीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kartika-vrata (via Kartika-dīkṣā)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

FAQs

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

It declares Kārtika as uniquely potent: taking dīkṣā (a consecrated commitment to sādhana/vrata) in this month severs the causes of repeated birth, emphasizing Kārtika’s exceptional merit in purification and liberation-oriented practice.

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

By urging dīkṣā specifically in Kārtika—traditionally dedicated to Hari/Vishnu—the verse frames devotion as disciplined commitment: bhakti is strengthened when one formally undertakes vows, worship, and regulated practice in a sacred time.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure) and Jyotiṣa-based sacred calendrics: selecting Kārtika as an auspicious period for initiating vows/rites, showing how timing (māsa) guides effective vrata and dīkṣā observance.