Shloka 21
Kārtika-Māhātmya
The Greatness of Kārtika
तृप्तिर्न रसनातुल्या न समोऽन्यो द्विजेन च । न धर्मेण समं मित्रं न सत्येन समं यशः ॥ २१ ॥
tṛptirna rasanātulyā na samo'nyo dvijena ca | na dharmeṇa samaṃ mitraṃ na satyena samaṃ yaśaḥ || 21 ||
രസനിഗ്രഹത്തോളം തൃപ്തിയില്ല; സത്യദ്വിജൻ (ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ) തുല്യൻ മറ്റാരുമില്ല. ധർമ്മത്തോളം സുഹൃത്ത് ഇല്ല; സത്യത്തോളം യശസ്സുമില്ല।
Narada (didactic teaching in the Uttara-Bhaga context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
FAQs
It ranks inner discipline and moral absolutes above external supports: sense-restraint brings real contentment, Dharma protects like a true companion, and Satya alone yields enduring honor.
Bhakti is stabilized by purity: controlling taste and desire supports sāttvika living, while Dharma and Satya make devotion trustworthy and steady, preventing hypocrisy in worship and vrata.
It points to śikṣā/ācāra-based discipline—especially restraint in speech and consumption—supporting correct mantra-recitation and ritual conduct through personal purity and truthfulness.