Narada Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 15

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

क्रीडां त्यजति भूपालो दशम्यादिदिनत्रये । एवं प्रकीडतस्तस्य पूर्णे संवत्सरे गते ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

krīḍāṃ tyajati bhūpālo daśamyādidinatraye | evaṃ prakīḍatastasya pūrṇe saṃvatsare gate || 15 ||

Translation

自达沙弥日起的三天里，国王舍弃一切游戏与娱乐。如此守持戒律，待满一年过去，此仪轨便告圆满。

Word by Word

• क्रीडाम्: play/sport (recreation)
• क्रीडाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• त्यजति: abandons/gives up
• त्यजति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भूपालः: king (protector of the earth)
• भूपालः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: भू + पाल (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः/उपपद-तत्पुरुषः), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दशम्या: on the tenth (tithi)
• दशम्या: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दशमी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (दशमी-तिथ्या)

• आदि: beginning with, etc.
• आदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्राय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपपद/समास-प्रयोगे ‘etc., beginning with’ अर्थे

• दिनत्रये: in the three days
• दिनत्रये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिनत्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: त्रि + दिन (द्विगु), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एवम्: thus/in this manner
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण

• प्रकीडतः: of (him) who is sporting/playing
• प्रकीडतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + क्रीड् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Present active participle), परस्मैपद; षष्ठी-एकवचन (तस्य) सह सम्बन्धे

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पूर्णे: when completed/at the completion (of)
• पूर्णे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘संवत्सरे’ इति विशेषण

• संवत्सरे: in a year
• संवत्सरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गते: having passed/elapsed
• गते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘संवत्सरे गते’ = locative absolute

Speaker

Narada (teaching a vrata/niyama sequence within Uttara-Bhaga’s ritual-mahatmya narration)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It highlights vrata-dharma as disciplined self-restraint: renouncing pleasure (k्रीडा) on specific tithis and sustaining the rule until the vow is completed after a full year.

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

By prescribing controlled conduct and consistency, it supports bhakti as lived practice—devotion expressed through niyama (regulated living) rather than mere emotion, preparing the mind for worship and merit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa/ritual procedure and tithi-based timekeeping: the observance is fixed to lunar days (Daśamī onward) and a defined duration (three days, completed over a saṃvatsara).