Shloka 53

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

मंडलं चपलापांगि श्रीधरं कुब्जके तथा । कार्तिके वर्जयेत्तैलं कार्त्तिके वर्जयेन्मधु ॥ ५३ ॥

Transliteration

maṃḍalaṃ capalāpāṃgi śrīdharaṃ kubjake tathā | kārtike varjayettailaṃ kārttike varjayenmadhu || 53 ||

Translation

Wahai yang bermata lincah, pada bulan Kārttika hendaklah menjauhi minyak dan juga menjauhi madu—pantang ini diajarkan dalam laku nazar yang disebut Maṇḍala, Capalāpāṅgī, Śrīdhara dan Kubjakā.

Word by Word

• maṃḍalam: maṇḍala
• maṃḍalam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṃḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• capala-apāṅgi: O one with restless side-glances
• capala-apāṅgi: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: capala (प्रातिपदिक) + apāṅgin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (यस्या: चपलाः अपाङ्गाः सा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• śrīdharam: Śrīdhara (Vishnu)
• śrīdharam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrīdhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• kubjake: at Kubjaka (place)
• kubjake: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kubjaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: likewise/also)

• kārtike: in Kārtika
• kārtike: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārtika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (मासे)

• varjayet: should avoid
• varjayet: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛj (धातु; वर्जयति = to avoid)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tailam: oil
• tailam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• kārttike: in Kārtika
• kārttike: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārttika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (मासे)

• varjayet: should avoid
• varjayet: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛj (धातु; वर्जयति)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• madhu: honey
• madhu: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Kārttika-vrata context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Maṇḍala / Capalāpāṅgī / Śrīdhara / Kubjakā (named Kārttika observances)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta (peace)

Secondary Rasa: bhakti (devotion)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes Kārttika as a month of heightened vrata-discipline, where renunciation of certain pleasures (like oil and honey) functions as tapas and supports purity, restraint, and devotional focus.

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

By prescribing simple, embodied restraints during Kārttika, it frames bhakti as lived practice—devotion is strengthened through regulated conduct (niyama) that keeps the mind steady for worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa/Ācāra (ritual procedure and code of conduct) is implied: the verse gives vrata-niyamas (practical rules) for a specific lunar month, aligning daily habits with scriptural observance.