Shloka 16

The Discourse of Rukmāṅgada

Prabodhinī Ekādaśī, Kārtika-vrata, and Satya-dharma

Devanagari script

कर्तुकामो व्रतं देवि कार्तिकाख्यं सुपुण्यदम् । इयं वारयते मां च व्रताद्ब्रह्मसुता शुभे ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

kartukāmo vrataṃ devi kārtikākhyaṃ supuṇyadam | iyaṃ vārayate māṃ ca vratādbrahmasutā śubhe || 16 ||

Translation

ಓ ದೇವಿ, ಕಾರ್ತಿಕವ್ರತವೆಂಬ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಪುಣ್ಯದಾಯಕ ವ್ರತವನ್ನು ಮಾಡಲು ನಾನು ಬಯಸುತ್ತೇನೆ; ಆದರೆ ಓ ಶುಭೆ, ಈ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಸುತೆ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಆ ವ್ರತದಿಂದ ತಡೆಯುತ್ತಾಳೆ॥೧೬॥

Word by Word

• कर्तुकामः: desirous to perform
• कर्तुकामः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Predicate adjective of speaker)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्तु (कृ-धातोः तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘कर्तुं कामः’ = desirous to do

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

• देवि: O goddess/lady
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• कार्तिकाख्यम्: called ‘Kārtika’
• कार्तिकाख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्तिक + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘कार्तिक-आख्य’ = named ‘Kārtika’ (qualifying vrataṃ)

• सुपुण्यदम्: bestowing great merit
• सुपुण्यदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + पुण्य + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘पुण्यं ददाति’ = bestowing great merit

• इयम्: this (woman)
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वारयते: prevents, restrains
• वारयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु) [वारयति-णिच्]
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction ‘and’)

• व्रतात्: from the vow
• व्रतात्: Apadana (अपादान/From)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मसुता: Brahmā’s daughter
• ब्रह्मसुता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition to iyam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘ब्रह्मणः सुता’ = daughter of Brahmā

• शुभे: O auspicious one
• शुभे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Narrative speaker (within the Kārtika-vrata episode; a male devotee addressing Devī)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kārtika-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Devī
• Brahmā

FAQs

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

It highlights the exceptional merit (supuṇya) attributed to the Kārtika-vrata, while also showing that social or familial constraints can obstruct one’s intended dharmic observance—setting up the narrative tension that the Purana resolves through proper guidance.

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

By emphasizing a named vow (Kārtika-vrata) as ‘highly meritorious,’ the verse frames devotion as disciplined practice—bhakti expressed through regulated observance, perseverance, and seeking divine approval despite obstacles.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline (kalpa-oriented practice) is implied: undertaking a vrata requires correct timing, rules of conduct, and procedural purity—elements traditionally systematized through Kalpa (a Vedāṅga domain concerned with ritual observances).