Shloka 8

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्मनुष्यबहुलैर्जलस्नानविचित्रितैः । यत्रोत्सुकैः प्रयातैस्तु भूमिपालैः समंततः ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

tasminmanuṣyabahulairjalasnānavicitritaiḥ | yatrotsukaiḥ prayātaistu bhūmipālaiḥ samaṃtataḥ || 8 ||

Translation

तस्मिन् स्थाने मनुष्यबहुलैर्जलस्नानविचित्रितैः; उत्सुकैः प्रयातैर्भूमिपालैश्च समन्ततः ॥

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in that (place/time)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter usage); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• मनुष्य-बहुलैः: with (those) numerous with people / crowded with people
• मनुष्य-बहुलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + बहुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); तत्पुरुष: ‘मनुष्यैः बहुलः’ (abounding in people)

• जल-स्नान-विचित्रितैः: with (those) made variegated by bathing in water
• जल-स्नान-विचित्रितैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + स्नान (प्रातिपदिक) + विचित्रित (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); तत्पुरुष; विचित्रित = वि + √चित्र् (धातु) + क्त (PPP)

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: where)

• उत्सुकैः: with eager (ones)
• उत्सुकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्सुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); विशेषणम्

• प्रयातैः: with (those) who had gone/arrived
• प्रयातैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + या (धातु) → प्रयात (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; emphasis/contrast)

• भूमि-पालैः: with kings
• भूमि-पालैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); तत्पुरुष: ‘भूमेः पालाः’ (protectors of the earth)

• समन्ततः: from all sides; everywhere
• समन्ततः: Desha-adhikarana (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Narada (narrating within the Tirtha-Mahatmya section; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara contextually implied)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It highlights the magnetic sanctity of a tirtha: the holy place becomes spiritually vibrant through communal water-bathing (snana), drawing not only common pilgrims but even kings, indicating widespread faith in tirtha-mahatmya.

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

By portraying eager travel and reverent bathing at a sacred site, the verse reflects bhakti expressed through pilgrimage practices—approaching holy places with enthusiasm and humility as part of lived devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual practice is implied: tirtha-snana as a dharmic observance (a smriti-aligned rite). While no single Vedanga is named, the verse supports kalpa-style ritual discipline through prescribed sacred bathing and pilgrimage conduct.