Shloka 35

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

तस्याप्यभावात्सुभगे परदीपप्रबोधनम् । कर्तव्यं भक्तिभावेन सर्वदानाधिकं च तत् ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

tasyāpyabhāvātsubhage paradīpaprabodhanam | kartavyaṃ bhaktibhāvena sarvadānādhikaṃ ca tat || 35 ||

Translation

ಹೇ ಸುಭಗೇ! ಅದು ಸಹ ಲಭ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲದಿದ್ದರೆ, ಭಕ್ತಿಭಾವದಿಂದ ದೇವಾಲಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಅಥವಾ ಪವಿತ್ರ ಸ್ಥಳದಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತೊಬ್ಬರಿಗಾಗಿ ದೀಪವನ್ನು ಬೆಳಗಿಸಬೇಕು; ಆ ಕರ್ಮವು ಎಲ್ಲಾ ದಾನಗಳಿಗಿಂತ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠವೆಂದು ಸ್ಮೃತಿಯಾಗಿದೆ.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of that (of him/it)
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-सम्भव (pronoun)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• अभावात्: from (the) absence
• अभावात्: अपादान (Ablative source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/पञ्चमी), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• सुभगे: O fortunate one
• सुभगे: सम्बोधन (Address/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुभग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग (addressing a woman)

• परदीपप्रबोधनम्: the lighting/awakening of another’s lamp
• परदीपप्रबोधनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर-दीप-प्रबोधन (प्रातिपदिक; पर + दीप + प्रबोधन)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; समासः—तत्पुरुष (determinative)

• कर्तव्यम्: is to be done / should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: विधेय/कर्तव्यता (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्प्रत्यय) → कर्तव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate) अर्थः—‘should be done’

• भक्तिभावेन: with a devotional attitude
• भक्तिभावेन: करण (Instrument/Means/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति-भाव (प्रातिपदिक; भक्ति + भाव)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; समासः—तत्पुरुष

• सर्वदानाधिकम्: greater than all gifts
• सर्वदानाधिकम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-दान-अधिक (प्रातिपदिक; सर्व + दान + अधिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; विशेषण (adjective) कर्तव्यम्/तत् इत्यस्य

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्: that (act)
• तत्: कर्म/विषय (Object/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"bhakti","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_journey":"From practical lack/constraint (“if even that is not available”) to a simple, heartfelt substitute act, culminating in exaltation of lamp-kindling as the highest gift."}

FAQs

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

It elevates dīpa-sevā (kindling a lamp for others in a sacred setting) as a highly meritorious act because it is done with bhakti and benefits many, symbolizing the offering of light (knowledge, auspiciousness) to the divine and the community.

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

It teaches that when larger acts of charity are not possible, sincere devotion expressed through a simple, accessible act—lighting a lamp—can become spiritually greater than extensive giving, because intention (bhāva) is central to bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual application (kalpa/ācāra) is implied: performing dīpa-prabodhana as a regulated devotional act in temples or tīrthas, emphasizing correct practice and sanctified intent rather than technical disciplines like vyākaraṇa or jyotiṣa.