Shloka 73

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

मौने घंटां तिलान्वापि सहिरण्यान्प्रदापयेत् । दंपत्योर्भोजनं कार्यमुभयोः शयनान्वितम् ॥ ७३ ॥

Transliteration

maune ghaṃṭāṃ tilānvāpi sahiraṇyānpradāpayet | daṃpatyorbhojanaṃ kāryamubhayoḥ śayanānvitam || 73 ||

Translation

मौन-व्रतात घंटा, तीळ आणि सुवर्ण दान करावे. दांपत्यासाठी भोजनाची व्यवस्था करावी आणि दोघांसाठी शयन-सामग्रीही द्यावी.

Word by Word

• मौने: in the vow of silence
• मौने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन

• घण्टाम्: a bell
• घण्टाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घण्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• तिलान्: sesame seeds
• तिलान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्प-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle)

• स-हिरण्यान्: together with gold (coins)
• स-हिरण्यान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय) + हिरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; ‘स’ = सह/युक्त (with) (उपसर्गवत् अव्यय-प्रयोगः)

• प्रदापयेत्: should cause to be given / should give (through someone)
• प्रदापयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दा + णिच् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative: ‘cause to give’/‘have given’)

• दम्पत्योः: of the couple (husband and wife)
• दम्पत्योः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम्पती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विवचनार्थे द्वन्द्व-समाहार-प्रातिपदिक; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), द्विवचन

• भोजनम्: meal/feeding
• भोजनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्तृ/Predicate nominative), एकवचन

• कार्यम्: should be done
• कार्यम्: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from कृ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम्; कर्तव्यता (gerundive: ‘to be done’)

• उभयोः: of both
• उभयोः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (दम्पत्योः)

• शयन-अन्वितम्: accompanied with a bed/bedding
• शयन-अन्वितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शयन + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक; अन्वित from अन्वि+इ)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भोजनम्); तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थः (शयनेन अन्वितम् = with bedding)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma/vrata context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Mauna-vrata (silence observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It links Mauna (disciplined restraint of speech) with dāna (purifying charity): the inner austerity is completed by outward generosity—offering ritual items and supporting householders through food and rest.

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

Though not explicitly naming a deity, the verse reflects bhakti’s ethic of self-control and service—silence as a devotional restraint, and giving as an offering-spirit that honors dharma and sustains others.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights ritual procedure (kalpa-style vrata/dāna-vidhi): what items to donate and how to complete the observance through feeding (bhojana) and providing bedding (śayana), a practical rule-set for religious practice.