Shloka 58

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

चाण्डालो जायते देवि कार्तिके मांसभक्षणात् । कार्तिकः सर्वपापघ्नः किञ्चिद्व्रतधरस्य हि ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

cāṇḍālo jāyate devi kārtike māṃsabhakṣaṇāt | kārtikaḥ sarvapāpaghnaḥ kiñcidvratadharasya hi || 58 ||

Translation

اے دیوی! ماہِ کارتک میں گوشت کھانے سے انسان چانڈال بن جاتا ہے۔ کیونکہ کارتک سب گناہوں کا ناش صرف اسی کے لیے کرتا ہے جو کچھ نہ کچھ ورت (نذر و ریاضت) دھारण کرے۔

Word by Word

• चाण्डालः: a caṇḍāla (outcaste)
• चाण्डालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाण्डाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• जायते: is born
• जायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• देवि: O Goddess
• देवि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• कार्तिके: in Kārtika
• कार्तिके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• मांस-भक्षणात्: due to eating meat
• मांस-भक्षणात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मांस (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/हेतु), एकवचन; ‘मांसस्य भक्षणम्’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; हेतु-अर्थे पञ्चमी

• कार्तिकः: Kārtika (month)
• कार्तिकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; मास-नाम (personified/treated as subject)

• सर्व-पाप-घ्नः: destroyer of all sins
• सर्व-पाप-घ्नः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (हन् धातु, क्विप्/णिनि-सम्भव; प्रातिपदिक ‘slayer’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘सर्वाणि पापानि हन्ति’ इति बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रचलितः, परन्तु रूपेण उपपद-तत्पुरुष (घ्न-समास)

• किञ्चित्: even a little
• किञ्चित्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित् (अव्यय/सर्वनाम)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयुक्तं सर्वनाम; परिमाणवाचक (somewhat/a little)

• व्रत-धरस्य: of one who observes a vow
• व्रत-धरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (धृ धातु, अच्-प्रत्यय; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; ‘व्रतं धरति’ इति उपपद-तत्पुरुष; षष्ठी = of the observer

• हि: indeed; for
• हि: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Narada (teaching the Mahatmya of Kārtika-vrata; addressed to Devi within the cited verse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kartika-vrata

Verse Rasa

Rasa: {"primary_rasa":"bhayanaka","secondary_rasa":"bhakti","emotional_journey":"A stern prohibition (meat-eating leads to caṇḍāla-birth) resolves into a constructive devotional principle: Kartika’s sin-destroying power operates for the vow-holder, even with a small observance."}

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Kartika (month)

FAQs

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

It teaches that Kārtika is spiritually potent, but its sin-destroying power bears fruit only when supported by niyama (self-restraint) and vrata; violating core restraints like meat-eating is portrayed as spiritually degrading.

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

Bhakti is framed as disciplined devotion: honoring a sacred month through even a modest vow aligns conduct with sacred intent, making devotional merit effective rather than merely nominal.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa-style ritual discipline is implied: observing month-based vratas, following dietary niyamas, and understanding that prescribed observances (vidhi/niyama) condition the result of religious practice.