Shloka 40

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

आज्ञां विधेहि तत्कालं करिष्ये कार्त्तिकव्रतम् । तव वक्षोजपूजाया विरतो नीरजेक्षणे ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

ājñāṃ vidhehi tatkālaṃ kariṣye kārttikavratam | tava vakṣojapūjāyā virato nīrajekṣaṇe || 40 ||

Translation

请即刻下令；我将奉行迦尔提迦月之誓。噢莲华眼者，我将克制自己，不再礼拜你胸前之乳房。

Word by Word

• आज्ञाम्: command, order
• आज्ञाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• विधेहि: do, carry out
• विधेहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु) उपसर्गः वि-; लोट् (आज्ञार्थ)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्

• तत्कालम्: immediately, at that time
• तत्कालम्: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverb) = 'at that time/at once'

• करिष्ये: I will do
• करिष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), आत्मनेपदम्

• कार्त्तिकव्रतम्: the Kārttika vow
• कार्त्तिकव्रतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्त्तिक (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive determinative: 'of Kārttika'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तव: of you, your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• वक्षोजपूजायाः: from the worship of (your) breasts
• वक्षोजपूजायाः: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्षोज (प्रातिपदिक) + पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive determinative: 'worship of the breasts'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन (Singular)

• विरतः: desisting, refraining
• विरतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरत (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participial adjective) from √रम् with वि-; पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• नीरजेक्षणे: O lotus-eyed (one)
• नीरजेक्षणे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीरज (प्रातिपदिक) + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (possessive: 'she whose eyes are like lotuses'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

A male interlocutor (contextual lover/devotee figure speaking to a lotus-eyed woman)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kārttika-vrata

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: shringara

FAQs

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

It highlights the essence of vrata as immediate obedience to dharmic instruction and conscious restraint of sensual fixation, redirecting the mind toward sacred observance in Kārttika.

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

Bhakti here is supported by niyama (disciplined conduct): the speaker accepts the Kārttika-vrata and renounces erotic worship, implying a shift from bodily attraction to devotional purity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual discipline (kalpa-oriented practice) is implied: taking a month-long vrata like Kārttika requires prescribed restraints (niyamas) and timely initiation—“immediately”—as part of correct observance.