Shloka 1

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

वसिष्ठ उवाच । एवं धर्मांगदो राज्यं चकार वसुधातले । पितुर्ननियोगाद्राजेंद्र पालयन् हरिवासरम् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

vasiṣṭha uvāca | evaṃ dharmāṃgado rājyaṃ cakāra vasudhātale | piturnaniyogādrājeṃdra pālayan harivāsaram || 1 ||

Translation

婆悉吒（Vasiṣṭha）说道：“如是，达摩昂伽陀（Dharmāṅgada）在大地上治理国土，噢大王；并遵从父命，恭谨守持哈利（Hari）之圣日——哈利瓦萨拉（Harivāsara）。”

Word by Word

• vasiṣṭhaḥ: Vasiṣṭha
• vasiṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasiṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• evam: thus; in this manner
• evam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• dharmāṅgadaḥ: Dharmāṅgada (proper name)
• dharmāṅgadaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅgada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कर्मधारय/षष्ठीभावः): ‘धर्मः अङ्गदः’ / ‘धर्मस्य अङ्गदः’ (proper name)

• rājyam: kingdom; rule
• rājyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• cakāra: performed; exercised
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• vasudhā-tale: on the surface of the earth
• vasudhā-tale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasudhā (प्रातिपदिक) + tala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी): ‘वसुधायाः तलम्’

• pituḥ: of (his) father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• niyogāt: from the command; by the order
• niyogāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• rāja-indra: O king (lord among kings)
• rāja-indra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—कर्मधारयः: ‘राजा इव इन्द्रः’ (O king of kings)

• pālayan: protecting; governing
• pālayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pāl (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमानकृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada sense

• hari-vāsaram: the day of Hari (Hari-vāsara)
• hari-vāsaram: Karma (कर्म) / Viṣaya (विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक) + vāsara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी): ‘हरेः वासरम्’ = day of Hari (Viṣṇu)

Speaker

Vasiṣṭha

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Harivāsara (commonly Ekādaśī/Viṣṇu-day observance)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Dharmāṅgada
• Hari (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

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

It links rāja-dharma (worldly governance) with bhakti-based discipline: a righteous ruler prospers not merely by administration, but by faithfully observing Hari’s sacred observance-day as ordained by elders.

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

Bhakti here is shown as steady practice (vrata) within daily life—Dharmāṅgada rules the earth yet remains anchored in devotion by keeping Harivāsara according to his father’s instruction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse implies vrata-kāla-niyama (timing and calendrical observance) connected with dharma and sacred days—practically aligning with Jyotiṣa (Vedic calendrics) used to determine and keep Hari’s observance-days.