Shloka 13
Kārttika-vrata Discipline: Purity Rules, Morning Bath Saṅkalpa, Tilaka Injunctions, and Food Prohibitions
ऊर्ध्वपुंड्रं मृदा शुभ्रं ललाटे यस्य दृश्यते । चांडालोऽपि विशुद्धात्मा पूज्य एव न संशयः । अच्छिद्रमूर्ध्वपुंड्रं तु ये कुर्वंति नराधमाः
ūrdhvapuṃḍraṃ mṛdā śubhraṃ lalāṭe yasya dṛśyate | cāṃḍālo'pi viśuddhātmā pūjya eva na saṃśayaḥ | acchidramūrdhvapuṃḍraṃ tu ye kurvaṃti narādhamāḥ
जिसके ललाट पर शुभ्र मृत्तिका का ऊर्ध्वपुंड्र दिखाई देता है, वह चांडाल भी हो तो भी शुद्धात्मा और पूज्य है—इसमें संदेह नहीं। पर जो अधम जन अखंड (अशास्त्रीय) ऊर्ध्वपुंड्र बनाते हैं…
Unspecified (narrative voice not provided in the excerpt)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चांडालोऽपि = चाण्डालः + अपि (विसर्गसन्धि); अच्छिद्रमूर्ध्वपुंड्रम् = अच्छिद्रम् + ऊर्ध्वपुण्ड्रम् (स्वरसन्धि).
FAQs
It teaches that wearing the vertical tilaka made of pure white clay is a sign of inner purification and can make a person worthy of honor, regardless of social origin.
To emphasize that spiritual purity and devotion (signified here by the Vaiṣṇava mark) can transcend birth-based status in determining religious respect.
It refers to an “unbroken” or “gapless” vertical tilaka; the verse begins a contrasting statement criticizing certain improper forms or attitudes regarding the tilaka (the sentence appears to continue beyond the provided excerpt).