Shloka 19

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

न वेदेन समं शास्त्रं न तीर्थं गंगया समम् । न भूम्या सदृशं दानं न सुखं भार्यया समम् ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

na vedena samaṃ śāstraṃ na tīrthaṃ gaṃgayā samam | na bhūmyā sadṛśaṃ dānaṃ na sukhaṃ bhāryayā samam || 19 ||

Translation

Tiada śāstra yang menyamai Veda; tiada tīrtha yang menyamai Gaṅgā. Tiada derma yang sebanding dengan derma tanah; tiada kebahagiaan yang menyamai kebahagiaan melalui istri.

Word by Word

• न: not/no
• न: Sambandha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• वेदेन: with the Veda
• वेदेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समम्: equal
• समम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘शास्त्रम्’ इति विशेषण

• शास्त्रम्: treatise/scripture
• शास्त्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not/no
• न: Sambandha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• तीर्थम्: pilgrimage place/sacred ford
• तीर्थम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गङ्गया: with the Gaṅgā
• गङ्गया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समम्: equal
• समम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘तीर्थम्’ इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषण

• न: not/no
• न: Sambandha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• भूम्या: with the earth/land
• भूम्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सदृशम्: similar/equal
• सदृशम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘दानम्’ इति विशेषण

• दानम्: gift/charity
• दानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not/no
• न: Sambandha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• सुखम्: happiness/comfort
• सुखम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भार्यया: with a wife
• भार्यया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• समम्: equal
• समम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘सुखम्’ इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषण

Speaker

Narada (in instruction within Uttara-Bhaga context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Veda
• Ganga

FAQs

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

It establishes a hierarchy of spiritual and dharmic excellences: the Veda as supreme authority, Gaṅgā as foremost tīrtha, bhūmi-dāna as an eminent form of charity, and the harmonious household (with a wife) as a major source of worldly well-being supporting dharma.

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

By praising Gaṅgā as the highest tīrtha and the Veda as the highest śāstra, it points devotees toward purification (tīrtha-sevā, snāna) and scriptural grounding—both of which traditionally nourish Viṣṇu-bhakti through disciplined living, worship, and sacred practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is not a technical Vedāṅga passage; its practical takeaway is śāstra-prāmāṇya (reliance on Vedic authority) guiding correct ritual conduct and dharmic giving (dāna), rather than detailing Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Chandas, Nirukta, Kalpa, or Jyotiṣa.