Shloka 68

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

अवैकल्यं भवेच्चैव व्रतं पुण्यफलस्य तु । राजोवाच । नक्तव्रती षड्रसेन ब्राह्मणं भोजयेत्प्रिये ॥ ६८ ॥

Transliteration

avaikalyaṃ bhaveccaiva vrataṃ puṇyaphalasya tu | rājovāca | naktavratī ṣaḍrasena brāhmaṇaṃ bhojayetpriye || 68 ||

Translation

ວຣະຕະຈະໃຫ້ຜົນບຸນອັນເຕັມບໍ່ຂາດ ກໍ່ຕໍ່ເມື່ອຖືຢ່າງບໍ່ມີຂໍ້ບົກພ່ອງ. ພະຣາຊາກ່າວວ່າ: «ໂອ ຜູ້ເປັນທີ່ຮັກ, ຜູ້ຖືນັກຕະວຣະຕະ (naktavrata) ຄວນເລີ້ຍງພຣາຫມະນະດ້ວຍອາຫານຫົກລົດ»។

Word by Word

• अवैकल्यम्: faultlessness/without deficiency
• अवैकल्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवैकल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुं), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular/एक)

• भवेत्: should be/become
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/सम्भावना), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), एकवचन (Singular/एक)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणबोधक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• व्रतम्: the vow
• व्रतम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुं), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular/एक)

• पुण्यफलस्य: of meritorious fruit
• पुण्यफलस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुं), षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular/एक)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेष (but/indeed)

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/पुं), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular/एक)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), एकवचन (Singular/एक)

• नक्तव्रती: one observing the night-vow (eating at night)
• नक्तव्रती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रतिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/पुं), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular/एक)

• षड्रसेन: with six tastes/flavors
• षड्रसेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/पुं), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular/एक)

• ब्राह्मणम्: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/पुं), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular/एक)

• भोजयेत्: should feed
• भोजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/सम्भावना), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), एकवचन (Singular/एक); causative sense (णिच्) implied: ‘cause to eat/feed’

• प्रिये: O dear one
• प्रिये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग (as address), सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन (Singular/एक)

Speaker

Raja (the King)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Nakta-vrata (within broader vow context)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahmana

FAQs

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

It teaches that the efficacy of a vrata depends on completeness (avaikalya)—careful, undiminished observance—supported by dana (charitable giving), here expressed as feeding a brāhmaṇa.

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

While primarily ritual-focused, it supports bhakti-oriented life by emphasizing disciplined observance and offering (seva/dana), which purifies the devotee and strengthens devotional intention through regulated conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure (kalpa-prayoga style guidance): ensuring a vow is performed without omission and specifying the offering standard (ṣaḍrasa meal) when feeding a brāhmaṇa as part of vrata completion.