Shloka 22

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

नारोग्यसममैश्वर्यं न देवः केशवात्परः । न कार्तिकसमं लोके पावनं कवयो विदुः ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

nārogyasamamaiśvaryaṃ na devaḥ keśavātparaḥ | na kārtikasamaṃ loke pāvanaṃ kavayo viduḥ || 22 ||

Translation

អៃश्वर្យមិនមានអ្វីស្មើសុខភាពគ្មានជំងឺឡើយ; ព្រះទេវតាមិនមានអ្វីលើសកេសវ (Keśava) ទេ។ ហើយក្នុងលោកនេះ បណ្ឌិតទាំងឡាយដឹងថា មិនមានអ្វីបរិសុទ្ធស្មើខែកាតិក (Kārtika) ឡើយ។

Word by Word

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

• ārogya-samaṃ: equal to health
• ārogya-samaṃ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārogya (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपमान-पूर्वपद), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular; adverbial ‘equal to health’)

• aiśvaryam: sovereignty; prosperity; power
• aiśvaryam: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aiśvarya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

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

• devaḥ: god
• devaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• keśavāt: than Keśava (Vishnu)
• keśavāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: keśava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Ablative singular)

• paraḥ: higher; superior
• paraḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

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

• kārtika-samaṃ: equal to (the month of) Kārtika
• kārtika-samaṃ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārtika (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपमान-पूर्वपद), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular; adverbial)

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Locative singular)

• pāvanam: purifier; purifying thing
• pāvanam: Karma (कर्म/predicate-noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative singular)

• kavayaḥ: sages; poets
• kavayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Nominative plural)

• viduḥ: know
• viduḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन (3rd person plural)

Speaker

Narada (within the Narada–Sanatkumara dialogue tradition; Kārtika-māhātmya instruction)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kārtika-vrata (month-long observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Keśava
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It ranks three supreme goods: health as the highest worldly prosperity, Keśava as the unsurpassed divine refuge, and Kārtika as the most sanctifying sacred time for spiritual purification.

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

By declaring Keśava supreme and Kārtika uniquely purifying, it directs devotees toward intensified Vishnu-bhakti and Kārtika-vratas as a focused season for worship, merit, and inner cleansing.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa-style practical dharma (vrata and sacred-time observance): recognizing Kārtika as a special kāla (ritual season) for purificatory disciplines and regulated worship.