Shloka 56

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

कार्तिके शौकरमांसं यस्तु भुञ्जीत दुर्मतिः । षष्टिवर्षसहस्राणि रौरवे परिपच्यते ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

kārtike śaukaramāṃsaṃ yastu bhuñjīta durmatiḥ | ṣaṣṭivarṣasahasrāṇi raurave paripacyate || 56 ||

Translation

कार्तिक महिन्यात जो दुर्मती मनुष्य डुकराचे मांस खातो, तो साठ हजार वर्षे रौरव नरकात भाजला जाऊन यातना भोगतो.

Word by Word

• कार्तिके: in (the month of) Kārtika
• कार्तिके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; मास-नाम

• शौकर-मांसम्: boar/pig meat
• शौकर-मांसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौकर (शूकर-सम्बन्धी; प्रातिपदिक) + मांस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘शूकरस्य मांसम्’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ

• भुञ्जीत: should eat; eats (in injunctional sense)
• भुञ्जीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (Optative), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दुर्मतिः: a wicked-minded person
• दुर्मतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; यः इति विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• षष्टि-वर्ष-सहस्राणि: sixty thousand years
• षष्टि-वर्ष-सहस्राणि: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्टि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कालपरिमाण), बहुवचन; ‘षष्ट्या वर्षाणां सहस्राणि’ इति संख्यापूर्वक-तत्पुरुष/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध

• रौरवे: in Raurava (hell)
• रौरवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; नरक-नाम

• परिपच्यते: is cooked; is tormented
• परिपच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि+पच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (is cooked/tormented)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Kartika Mahatmya context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kartika-vrata (month observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Kartika
• Raurava

FAQs

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

It stresses Kartika as a sacred vrata-month where restraint (especially in diet) is treated as a core dharmic observance, and violations are framed as generating severe papa with naraka consequences.

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

By linking devotion to disciplined conduct: Kartika-bhakti is not only worship but also niyama (self-control). Avoiding prohibited foods is presented as supporting purity and steadiness in Vishnu-oriented vrata practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa/Smarta-style ritual discipline is implied: month-specific vrata-niyamas (timed observances) governing diet and conduct, a practical rule-set used to structure Kartika religious practice.