Shloka 76

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

लवणस्य तु संत्यागे दातव्या सुरभिस्तथा । आमिषस्य परित्यागे सवत्सां कपिलां ददेत् ॥ ७६ ॥

Transliteration

lavaṇasya tu saṃtyāge dātavyā surabhistathā | āmiṣasya parityāge savatsāṃ kapilāṃ dadet || 76 ||

Translation

ଲବଣ ତ୍ୟାଗ କଲେ ସୁରଭି—ସୁଗନ୍ଧିତ, ଉତ୍ତମ ଦୁଗ୍ଧଦାୟିନୀ ଗାଈ ଦାନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ। ମାଂସ ତ୍ୟାଗ କଲେ ବଛଡ଼ା ସହିତ କପିଲା (ତାମ୍ରବର୍ଣ୍ଣ) ଗାଈ ଦାନ କର।

Word by Word

• लवणस्य: of salt
• लवणस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle)

• संत्यागे: in giving up (abstaining)
• संत्यागे: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संत्याग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• दातव्या: should be given
• दातव्या: विधेय (predicate; obligation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + तव्य (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (तव्यत्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective: ‘to be given’)

• सुरभिः: a fragrant cow (Surabhi cow)
• सुरभिः: कर्म (Object implied with दातव्या)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक (adverb: likewise/also)

• आमिषस्य: of meat/flesh
• आमिषस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आमिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• परित्यागे: in renunciation (giving up)
• परित्यागे: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परित्याग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• सवत्साम्: with a calf
• सवत्साम्: कर्म (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (वत्सयुक्ता = with a calf)

• कपिलाम्: a tawny (brown) cow
• कपिलाम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• ददेत्: should give
• ददेत्: क्रिया (Verb action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a dharma/vrata-dana instruction sequence)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"From ascetic restraint (giving up salt/meat) to compassionate generosity (cow-gifts), reinforcing purity and sattva."}

FAQs

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

It links personal restraint (tyaga of salt and meat) with dana, teaching that vows become spiritually complete when supported by charitable giving—especially gau-dana, regarded as a highly meritorious gift in dharma-shastra tradition.

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

By encouraging self-control and compassion (notably the abandonment of meat), the verse cultivates sattva and purity—inner conditions traditionally considered supportive for Vishnu-bhakti and steady worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

This is primarily ritual praxis (kalpa-oriented dharma practice): it specifies vrata-related dana substitutes/companions to dietary restrictions, illustrating how observances are formalized through prescribed gifts.