Shloka 45

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

कार्त्तिके कृच्छ्रसेवी यः प्राजापत्यचरोऽपि वा । एकांतरोपवासी वा त्रिरात्रोपोषितोऽपि वा ॥ ४५ ॥

Transliteration

kārttike kṛcchrasevī yaḥ prājāpatyacaro'pi vā | ekāṃtaropavāsī vā trirātropoṣito'pi vā || 45 ||

Translation

Ai trong tháng Kārttika thực hành khổ hạnh Kṛcchra, hoặc giữ pháp Prājāpatya; hoặc nhịn ăn cách ngày; hoặc dù chỉ nhịn ăn ba đêm—người ấy đều được công đức như đã tuyên thuyết.

Word by Word

• कार्त्तिके: in (the month of) Kārttika
• कार्त्तिके: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्त्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; काल/मास-निर्देश (in the month of Kārttika)

• कृच्छ्र-सेवी: one who practices the kṛcchra austerity
• कृच्छ्र-सेवी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृच्छ्र + सेविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कृच्छ्रं सेवते इति)

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सूचक (relative pronoun)

• प्राजापत्य-चरः: one who observes the prājāpatya (vow)
• प्राजापत्य-चरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राजापत्य + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (प्राजापत्यं चरति इति)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थ (also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: or)

• एक-अन्तर-उपवासी: one who fasts on alternate days
• एक-अन्तर-उपवासी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + अन्तर + उपवासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (एकान्तरे उपवासी—fasting on alternate days)

• वा: or
• वा: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• त्रि-रात्र-उपोषितः: one who has fasted for three nights
• त्रि-रात्र-उपोषितः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि + रात्र + उपोषित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; उप-√वस्/उपवास धात्वर्थे, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle: ‘having fasted’); तत्पुरुष-समास (त्रिरात्रं उपोषितः)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• वा: or
• वा: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

Speaker

Narada (in instruction/teaching context within Uttara-Bhaga Mahatmya narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kārttika-vrata (month-long sacred observance; here via penances/fasts)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It elevates Kārttika as a specially potent time for tapas (austerity), stating that even structured penances like Kṛcchra, Prājāpatya, alternate-day fasting, or a three-night fast become powerful means of accumulating dharmic merit in this month.

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

By recommending disciplined vows and fasting in Kārttika, it frames bodily restraint as supportive of bhakti—reducing distraction, increasing purity, and preparing the devotee for sustained worship and remembrance of the Lord (commonly Vishnu in Kārttika observances).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa (ritual discipline) is implied through named penances—Kṛcchra and Prājāpatya—and the regulated schedules of upavāsa (fasting), which are technical observances governed by dharma-śāstric procedure.