Shloka 42
Kārtika-Māhātmya
The Greatness of Kārtika
सर्वपुण्याकरः प्रोक्तो मासोऽयं राजसत्तमा । विशेषात्कुत्र कथितस्तदादिश महामते ॥ ४२ ॥
sarvapuṇyākaraḥ prokto māso'yaṃ rājasattamā | viśeṣātkutra kathitastadādiśa mahāmate || 42 ||
ಓ ರಾಜಸತ್ತಮ, ಈ ಮಾಸವು ಸರ್ವಪುಣ್ಯದ ಆಕರವೆಂದು ಹೇಳಲ್ಪಟ್ಟಿದೆ. ಓ ಮಹಾಮತೇ, ಇದರ ವಿಶೇಷ ಮಹಿಮೆ ಎಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಲಾಗಿದೆ ತಿಳಿಸು.
Narada (questioning, addressing a king)
Vrata: Kārttika (month sanctity; vrata implied)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
It frames the month as a “sarvapuṇyākara” (a reservoir of merit) and prompts a focused inquiry into the authoritative place/teaching where its distinctive greatness is explained.
By treating time (a sacred month) as spiritually potent, it prepares the listener to learn specific devotional observances (vratas, worship, remembrance) that generate merit and support sustained bhakti practice.
It most directly points to Kalpa (ritual procedure) and the practical calendrical framework used in vrata observance; the verse itself is an inquiry that leads to detailed rules and merits taught in the mahatmya context.