Shloka 48

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

विशेषात्पुष्करे तीर्थे द्वारावत्यां च शौकरे । मासोऽयं भक्तिदः प्रोक्तो व्रतदानार्चनादिभिः ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

viśeṣātpuṣkare tīrthe dvārāvatyāṃ ca śaukare | māso'yaṃ bhaktidaḥ prokto vratadānārcanādibhiḥ || 48 ||

Translation

此月被宣说为赐予奉爱（bhakti）之月——尤其在普什迦罗圣渡、在德瓦拉瓦蒂，以及在绍迦罗圣地（与野猪化身瓦拉哈相关）——藉由持戒愿、布施、礼拜供奉等诸行。

Word by Word

• विशेषात्: especially
• विशेषात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययीभूत (ablatival adverb): ‘especially’

• पुष्करे: at Puṣkara
• पुष्करे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; स्थान-निर्देश

• तीर्थे: at the sacred ford/place
• तीर्थे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; स्थान-निर्देश

• द्वारावत्याम्: in Dvārāvatī
• द्वारावत्याम्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारावती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; स्थान-निर्देश

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• शौकरे: in Śaukara (region/place)
• शौकरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; स्थान/क्षेत्र-नाम (in Śaukara)

• मासः: the month
• मासः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देश (this)

• भक्ति-दः: bestowing devotion
• भक्ति-दः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्ति + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (भक्तिं ददाति इति); विशेषण (मासः)

• प्रोक्तः: is declared
• प्रोक्तः: क्रिया (Predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘said/declared’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (मासः ... प्रोक्तः)

• व्रत-दान-अर्चन-आदिभिः: by vows, gifts, worship, etc.
• व्रत-दान-अर्चन-आदिभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत + दान + अर्चन + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (व्रतं च दानं च अर्चनं च ...); ‘आदि’ = etc.; साधन/हेतु-निर्देश

Speaker

Suta (narrating Narada Purana teachings; within the section attributed to Narada’s tirtha-mahatmya discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: Kārttika-māsa observance (implied)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Puṣkara
• Dvāravatī (Dvārakā)
• Varāha (implied by Śaukara)

FAQs

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

It teaches that a particular sacred month becomes a direct means to awaken bhakti, especially when supported by tīrtha-sevā (pilgrimage) and dharmic acts like vrata, dāna, and arcana.

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

Bhakti is presented as something that can be nourished through disciplined observances (vrata), selfless giving (dāna), and heartfelt worship (arcana), intensified by performing them at renowned tīrthas like Puṣkara and Dvāravatī.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse reflects Kalpa-style ritual application—how to structure religious practice through vows, worship procedures, and charity—rather than technical grammar or astrology.