Shloka 13
Kārtika-Māhātmya
The Greatness of Kārtika
रमयायास राजेंद्र दिव्यरूपा दिने दिने । राजापि मोहिनीं प्राप्य सर्वं कृत्यं परित्यजन् ॥ १३ ॥
ramayāyāsa rājeṃdra divyarūpā dine dine | rājāpi mohinīṃ prāpya sarvaṃ kṛtyaṃ parityajan || 13 ||
Wahai raja agung, ia—sang pemikat—setiap hari tampil dengan rupa yang makin ilahi dan berulang kali menyenangkan (sang raja); dan sang raja pun, setelah memperoleh wanita yang mempesona itu, meninggalkan segala kewajibannya.
Narada (narrating to a kingly listener within the Uttara-Bhaga discourse)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: karuna
FAQs
It highlights how fascination with sensual charm (moha) can overpower discrimination, causing even a responsible ruler to abandon dharma and prescribed duties—an implicit warning to cultivate restraint and clarity.
By showing the danger of attachment to temporary beauty, the verse indirectly points toward redirecting the mind from मोहिनी (worldly enchantment) to the स्थिर-आलम्बन (stable support) of Bhagavan—where devotion steadies the senses and preserves dharma.
The verse is primarily ethical (nīti/dharma) rather than technical Vedanga; the practical takeaway is dharma-priority—one should not abandon nitya/naimittika duties due to passion or infatuation.