Kārtika-Māhātmya
The Greatness of Kārtika
त्यक्तं न वासरं विष्णोर्जन्ममृत्युनिकृंतनम् । व्रतं नोपेक्षते तत्तु अतिमुग्धोऽपि पार्थिवः ॥ १४ ॥
tyaktaṃ na vāsaraṃ viṣṇorjanmamṛtyunikṛṃtanam | vrataṃ nopekṣate tattu atimugdho'pi pārthivaḥ || 14 ||
Qu’aucun jour sacré de Viṣṇu ne soit négligé—ce vœu (vrata) qui tranche la naissance et la mort. En vérité, même un roi grandement égaré ne délaisse pas ce vrata.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue)
Vrata: Viṣṇu-vāsara-vrata (unspecified sacred day of Viṣṇu; often aligned in later tradition with Ekādaśī/Dvādaśī observance)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
It declares that observing Viṣṇu’s sacred days and vratas is a mokṣa-oriented discipline—described as ‘cutting off’ the cycle of birth and death—so it should never be treated as optional.
Bhakti is shown as steady commitment expressed through regular observance (vrata) dedicated to Viṣṇu; devotion is proven by not neglecting the Lord’s appointed days.
Kalpa (ritual discipline) is implied: keeping vrata-days properly and consistently is a core practical rule of religious observance, even when one is distracted or confused.