अव्रतः कार्तिको येषां गतो मूढधियामिह । तेषां पुण्यस्य लेशोपि न भवेत्सूकरात्मनाम्
avrataḥ kārtiko yeṣāṃ gato mūḍhadhiyāmiha | teṣāṃ puṇyasya leśopi na bhavetsūkarātmanām
Bagi orang yang tumpul akal yang membiarkan bulan Kārtika berlalu tanpa sebarang vrata, tidak akan timbul walau sezarah pun pahala; mereka dikatakan berjiwa seperti babi hutan.
Skanda
Tirtha: Kārtika observance in Kāśī (contextual)
Type: kshetra
Scene: A split scene: on one side, illuminated ghats with devotees performing Kārtika rites; on the other, a person sleeping in darkness as Kārtika moon passes—shadowy boar imagery symbolizes tamas and missed merit.
Kārtika is a rare spiritual opportunity; neglecting it entirely is portrayed as a grave loss of merit and discernment.
While Kāśīkhaṇḍa frames the discourse in Kāśī, this verse chiefly glorifies the sacred time—Kārtika month.
Do not let Kārtika pass without undertaking some form of vrata (religious observance).