Shloka 31

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

अव्रतेन गतो येषां कार्तिको मर्त्यधर्मिणाम् । इष्टापूर्तौ वृथा तेषां धर्मो द्रुहिणसंभवे ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

avratena gato yeṣāṃ kārtiko martyadharmiṇām | iṣṭāpūrtau vṛthā teṣāṃ dharmo druhiṇasaṃbhave || 31 ||

Translation

Hỡi đấng sinh từ Phạm Thiên, những kẻ phàm nhân để tháng Kārtika trôi qua mà không giữ một giới nguyện nào, thì các lễ tế và việc công đức bố thí của họ đều thành vô ích; ngay cả dharma của họ cũng hóa ra uổng công.

Word by Word

• a-vratena: without a vow
• a-vratena: Karana (करण/instrumental; ‘by/with absence of vow’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a- (नञ्) + vrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (without vow/observance)

• gataḥ: has passed
• gataḥ: Kriya (क्रिया; predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु) + gata (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• yeṣām: of whom
• yeṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (of whom)

• kārtikaḥ: Kārtika (month)
• kārtikaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject of ‘gataḥ’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kārtika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मासवाचक

• martya-dharmiṇām: of mortal-natured people
• martya-dharmiṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive apposition to ‘yeṣām’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: martya (प्रातिपदिक) + dharmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभाव: ‘मर्त्यधर्मिणः’ = those having mortal nature), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• iṣṭa-pūrtau: in sacrifices and charitable works
• iṣṭa-pūrtau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: iṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (इष्टं च पूर्तं च), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (collective locative)

• vṛthā: in vain
• vṛthā: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vṛthā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (in vain)

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• dharmaḥ: merit/dharma
• dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• druhiṇa-saṃbhave: O Brahmā (Druhiṇa-born)
• druhiṇa-saṃbhave: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/vocative sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: druhiṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: ‘द्रुहिणस्य सम्भवः’), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; संबोधन/अधिकरणार्थ (O Brahmā / in Brahmā-born context)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kārtika-vrata (implied by contrast: ‘avratena’ letting Kārtika pass without a vow)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Characters & Entities

• Brahma (Druhiṇa)

FAQs

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

It elevates Kārttika as a decisive sacred window: if one neglects vrata-dharma in this month, even otherwise meritorious religious works (iṣṭa and pūrta) are said to lose their spiritual efficacy.

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

By stressing vrata-observance in Kārttika, the verse points to disciplined, time-sacralized devotion—regular vows, restraint, and worship—rather than relying only on occasional charity or ritual for spiritual progress.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual discipline) is implicit: the verse prioritizes proper vrata-vidhi (vow-procedure and observance) tied to sacred time (māsa), showing that merit depends on correct religious practice, not merely the external act.