Shloka 68
Kārtika-Māhātmya
The Greatness of Kārtika
अवैकल्यं भवेच्चैव व्रतं पुण्यफलस्य तु । राजोवाच । नक्तव्रती षड्रसेन ब्राह्मणं भोजयेत्प्रिये ॥ ६८ ॥
avaikalyaṃ bhaveccaiva vrataṃ puṇyaphalasya tu | rājovāca | naktavratī ṣaḍrasena brāhmaṇaṃ bhojayetpriye || 68 ||
Hanya apabila nazar dipelihara tanpa sebarang kekurangan barulah ia menghasilkan pahala yang sempurna. Raja berkata: “Wahai kekasih, sesiapa yang berpuasa malam (naktavrata) hendaklah menjamu seorang brāhmaṇa dengan enam rasa.”
Raja (the King)
Vrata: Nakta-vrata (within broader vow context)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
FAQs
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.
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.
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.