Shloka 15
The Discourse of Rukmāṅgada
Prabodhinī Ekādaśī, Kārtika-vrata, and Satya-dharma
सोऽहं तृप्तिमनुप्राप्तः कामभोगात्पुनः पुनः । ज्ञातोऽयं कार्तिको मासः सर्वपापक्षयंकरः ॥ १५ ॥
so'haṃ tṛptimanuprāptaḥ kāmabhogātpunaḥ punaḥ | jñāto'yaṃ kārtiko māsaḥ sarvapāpakṣayaṃkaraḥ || 15 ||
காம இன்பங்களை மீண்டும் மீண்டும் நாடி நான் திருப்தியை அடைந்தேன் என எண்ணினேன்; ஆனால் இப்போது அறிந்தேன்—கார்த்திக மாதமே எல்லாப் பாவங்களையும் அழிப்பது॥१५॥
Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumāra tradition; exact speaker in this verse is presented as a first-person narrator within the Māhātmya)
Vrata: Kārtika observance (month-long Kārtika-vrata implied by māhātmya)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It contrasts temporary satisfaction from sense-enjoyment with the lasting spiritual purification attributed to Kārtika, declaring Kārtika-māsa as a powerful period for sarva-pāpa-kṣaya (destruction of sins).
By implying that true transformation comes not from repeated indulgence but from sacred time and devotional observances associated with Kārtika—typically centered on Hari/Vishnu worship, vows (vrata), and purity of conduct.
Kalā (sacred timekeeping) and Jyotiṣa-informed month observance are implicit: recognizing Kārtika as a spiritually potent māsa guides when to perform vratas, dāna, and pūjā for maximum purificatory merit.