Shloka 20

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

न कृष्या तु समं वित्तं न लाभः सुरभीसमः । न तपोऽनशनादन्यन्न दमेन समं शिवम् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

na kṛṣyā tu samaṃ vittaṃ na lābhaḥ surabhīsamaḥ | na tapo'naśanādanyanna damena samaṃ śivam || 20 ||

Translation

農耕によって得られる財に等しい財はなく、良き血統の牝牛に比すべき利得はない。断食に勝る苦行はなく、感官を制する自制（ダマ）に等しい吉祥はない。

Word by Word

• na: not / no
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• kṛṣyā: by agriculture; through farming
• kṛṣyā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• tu: but; indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/विरोधार्थक (particle: but/indeed)

• samam: equal; comparable
• samam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular; used adverbially ‘equally’)

• vittam: wealth
• vittam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• na: not / no
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• lābhaḥ: gain; profit
• lābhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• surabhī-samaḥ: equal to Surabhī (the wish-cow)
• surabhī-samaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: surabhī (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपमान-पूर्वपद), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• na: not / no
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• tapaḥ: austerity; penance
• tapaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• anaśanāt: from fasting; than fasting
• anaśanāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anaśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Ablative singular)

• anyat: other (anything else)
• anyat: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• na: not / no
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• damena: by self-control; through restraint
• damena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Instrumental singular)

• samam: equal; comparable
• samam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular; used adverbially)

• śivam: auspiciousness; welfare
• śivam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular; ‘auspicious good’)

Speaker

Narada (in a didactic passage; traditional dialogue frame associates teachings with Narada and the Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"A calm, aphoristic ascent from worldly prosperity (agriculture, cattle) to inner tapas (fasting) and culminates in the highest auspiciousness: dama (self-restraint)."}

Characters & Entities

• Surabhi

FAQs

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

It ranks ordinary human pursuits and disciplines, concluding that true welfare (śiva) is rooted in dama—self-restraint—because it stabilizes the mind and makes all dharmic and spiritual practices fruitful.

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

Bhakti is sustained by inner discipline: fasting as tapas can purify intent, but sense-control (dama) is presented as the highest auspicious support, helping the devotee maintain steadiness in worship, japa, and vrata.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a technical Vedanga lesson, it reflects dharma-śāstra style practical instruction: the verse emphasizes vrata-like discipline (anaśana) and ethical self-regulation (dama), which underpin correct ritual performance and daily conduct.