Skanda Purana — Prabhasa Khanda, Shloka 79
ऋते वै कार्तिकीमेकां पूजां सांवत्सरीं तव । करिष्यंति द्विजाः सर्वे सत्येनानेन ते शपे । एतद्बुद्ध्वा न कोपोस्तु हतो हन्ति न संशयः
ṛte vai kārtikīmekāṃ pūjāṃ sāṃvatsarīṃ tava | kariṣyaṃti dvijāḥ sarve satyenānena te śape | etadbuddhvā na kopostu hato hanti na saṃśayaḥ
ಕಾರ್ತಿಕಮಾಸದ ಒಂದೇ ವಾರ್ಷಿಕ ಪೂಜೆಯನ್ನು ಹೊರತುಪಡಿಸಿ, ಎಲ್ಲ ದ್ವಿಜರೂ ನಿನ್ನ ಪೂಜೆ ಮಾಡುವುದಿಲ್ಲ—ಈ ಸತ್ಯದಿಂದ ನಾನು ನಿನಗೆ ಶಪಥ ಮಾಡುತ್ತೇನೆ. ಇದನ್ನು ತಿಳಿದು ಕೋಪಿಸಬೇಡ; ಹೊಡೆತ ತಿಂದವನು ಪ್ರತಿಹೊಡೆತ ಕೊಡುತ್ತಾನೆ, ಸಂಶಯವಿಲ್ಲ.
Sāvitrī (continuation of the curse)
Tirtha: Prabhāsa-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Listener: Naimiṣāraṇya ṛṣis (frame)
Scene: A solemn oath is spoken: brāhmaṇas with raised right hands affirm truth; a calendar marker of Kārtika (moon, lamps) is hinted; the speaker counsels restraint from anger, warning of inevitable retaliation.
FAQs
Kārtika is elevated as a uniquely meritorious time for worship; dharma also cautions against anger and retaliation cycles.
Prabhāsa-kṣetra frames the teaching, while the verse particularly glorifies the sacred month of Kārtika as a time of worship.
A specific allowance is given: Brahmā may receive a single annual worship (sāṃvatsarī pūjā) during the month of Kārtika.