Shloka 14

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

त्यक्तं न वासरं विष्णोर्जन्ममृत्युनिकृंतनम् । व्रतं नोपेक्षते तत्तु अतिमुग्धोऽपि पार्थिवः ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

tyaktaṃ na vāsaraṃ viṣṇorjanmamṛtyunikṛṃtanam | vrataṃ nopekṣate tattu atimugdho'pi pārthivaḥ || 14 ||

Translation

ವಿಷ್ಣುವಿನ ಜನ್ಮಮೃತ್ಯುಗಳನ್ನು ಕಡಿದುಹಾಕುವ ವ್ರತ—ಅದರ ಒಂದು ಪವಿತ್ರ ದಿನವನ್ನೂ ಬಿಡಬಾರದು; ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಮೋಹಿತನಾದ ರಾಜನೂ ಅದನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಲಕ್ಷ್ಯಿಸುವುದಿಲ್ಲ।

Word by Word

• त्यक्तम्: abandoned
• त्यक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगः; 'त्यक्तम्' = abandoned

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• वासरम्: the day (observance day)
• वासरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• जन्ममृत्युनिकृन्तनम्: that which cuts off birth and death
• जन्ममृत्युनिकृन्तनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन्म + मृत्यु + नि + कृन्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष-समाहार (जन्म-मृत्योः निकृन्तनम् = 'cutting off birth and death'); विशेषणम् (वासरम्/व्रतम्)

• व्रतम्: vow, observance
• व्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मपद

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation)

• उपेक्षते: neglects
• उपेक्षते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; अर्थः 'उपेक्षते' = neglects/overlooks

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; 'that' (refers to vrata/vasara)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• अतिमुग्धः: very deluded
• अतिमुग्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + मुग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (अति+मुग्ध = very deluded); विशेषणम् (पार्थिवः)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (even/also)

• पार्थिवः: the king (earthly ruler)
• पार्थिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृपद

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Viṣṇu-vāsara-vrata (unspecified sacred day of Viṣṇu; often aligned in later tradition with Ekādaśī/Dvādaśī observance)

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"bhakti","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"A firm corrective injunction rises over delusion: never neglect Viṣṇu’s sacred observance that severs saṃsāra."}

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It declares that observing Viṣṇu’s sacred days and vratas is a mokṣa-oriented discipline—described as ‘cutting off’ the cycle of birth and death—so it should never be treated as optional.

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

Bhakti is shown as steady commitment expressed through regular observance (vrata) dedicated to Viṣṇu; devotion is proven by not neglecting the Lord’s appointed days.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual discipline) is implied: keeping vrata-days properly and consistently is a core practical rule of religious observance, even when one is distracted or confused.