Shloka 69

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

अयाचिते त्वनङ्काहं सहिरण्यं प्रदापयेत् । अमांसाशीभवेद्यस्त्तु गां प्रदद्यात्सदक्षिणाम् ॥ ६९ ॥

Transliteration

ayācite tvanaṅkāhaṃ sahiraṇyaṃ pradāpayet | amāṃsāśībhavedyasttu gāṃ pradadyātsadakṣiṇām || 69 ||

Translation

ಅಯಾಚಿತ ದಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಗುರುತುಹಾಕದ ಹಸುವನ್ನು ಚಿನ್ನದೊಂದಿಗೆ ದಾನ ಮಾಡಿಸಬೇಕು. ಮತ್ತು ಯಾರು ಮಾಂಸವರ್ಜಿತನಾಗಿ ಯಥೋಚಿತ ದಕ್ಷಿಣೆಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಹಸುವನ್ನು ದಾನಮಾಡುತ್ತಾನೋ, ಅವನು ಪುಣ್ಯಭಾಗಿಯಾಗುತ್ತಾನೆ.

Word by Word

अयाचितेwhen not asked (unsolicited)

तुindeed

अनङ्काहम्I, without deceit/blemish (reading uncertain)

सहिरण्यम्with gold

प्रदापयेत्should cause to be given/should give

अमांसाशीone who does not eat meat

भवेत्should be/become

यःwho

तुindeed

गाम्a cow

प्रदद्यात्should give

सदक्षिणाम्with a priestly fee/donation

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration within Uttara-Bhaga’s dharma/tirtha framework)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

Narada

FAQs

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

The verse links pure, unsolicited charity (ayācita-dāna) with ethical purification: gifting a cow properly (with gold and dakṣiṇā) is presented as a dharmic act that supports a life of restraint and non-violence.

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

By emphasizing selfless giving and ahiṁsā (meat-abstinence), the verse supports the inner purity and sattva considered conducive to steady devotion—especially in the tirtha-based devotional culture of the Uttara-Bhaga.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual propriety is implied through the requirement of dakṣiṇā and the specification of the gift’s condition (unbranded cow, gold), reflecting dharma-śāstric procedure rather than a technical Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa.