Shloka 75

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

नखराणां च केशानां धारणे दर्पणं ददेत् । उपानहौ प्रदद्यात्तु पादत्राणविवर्जने ॥ ७५ ॥

Transliteration

nakharāṇāṃ ca keśānāṃ dhāraṇe darpaṇaṃ dadet | upānahau pradadyāttu pādatrāṇavivarjane || 75 ||

Translation

Pour l’entretien convenable des ongles et des cheveux, qu’on offre en don un miroir. Et si l’on est sans chaussures (ou si l’on a renoncé à la protection des pieds), qu’on donne une paire de sandales.

Word by Word

• नखराणाम्: of nails
• नखराणाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (Plural)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• केशानाम्: of hair
• केशानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• धारणे: in/at the act of keeping (retaining)
• धारणे: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• दर्पणम्: a mirror
• दर्पणम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्पण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• ददेत्: should give
• ददेत्: क्रिया (Verb action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• उपानहौ: a pair of sandals/shoes
• उपानहौ: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपानह् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• प्रदद्यात्: should give (offer)
• प्रदद्यात्: क्रिया (Verb action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विरोध/विशेषणार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• पादत्राणविवर्जने: in abstaining from footwear
• पादत्राणविवर्जने: अधिकरण (Locative circumstance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पादत्राण + विवर्जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पादत्राणस्य विवर्जने = in the abstaining from footwear)

Speaker

Sūta (narrating the Narada Purana’s teaching on dāna)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It frames dāna as practical dharma: gifts should remove hardship and support cleanliness and right living—thus generating puṇya through compassionate utility.

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

While not explicitly devotional, it supports bhakti indirectly by teaching service-minded giving; such sattvic charity is traditionally offered in a spirit of reverence to Dharma and the divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa-style dāna-vidhi) is emphasized—matching a specific gift to a specific human need as part of disciplined religious conduct.