Shloka 74

Kārtika-Māhātmya

The Greatness of Kārtika

Devanagari script

संभोगं दक्षिणोपेतं व्रतस्य परिपूर्तये । प्रातः स्नाने हयं दद्यान्निःस्नेहे घृतसक्तुकान् ॥ ७४ ॥

Transliteration

saṃbhogaṃ dakṣiṇopetaṃ vratasya paripūrtaye | prātaḥ snāne hayaṃ dadyānniḥsnehe ghṛtasaktukān || 74 ||

Translation

为使誓戒圆满，应依规举行结愿之仪，并奉上达克希那（dakṣiṇā，供养师资之礼金）。晨浴之时，应布施一匹马；而对持守无油之戒者，应供施以酥油（ghṛta）调和的萨克图（saktu，炒谷粉）。

Word by Word

• संभोगम्: conjugal union
• संभोगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संभोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• दक्षिणा-उपेतम्: accompanied by a gift (dakṣiṇā)
• दक्षिणा-उपेतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिणा + उपेत (प्रातिपदिक; उपेत from उप+इ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (संभोगम्); तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थः (दक्षिणया उपेतम् = accompanied by a fee/gift)

• व्रतस्य: of the vow
• व्रतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन

• परि-पूर्तये: for the completion
• परि-पूर्तये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परि + पूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचन

• प्रातः: in the morning
• प्रातः: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रातः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• स्नाने: at the bath
• स्नाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्नान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन

• हयम्: a horse
• हयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• दद्यात्: should give
• दद्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• निः-स्नेहे: in the abstention from fats/oiliness
• निः-स्नेहे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निः (अव्यय-उपसर्ग) + स्नेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः (निः + स्नेह = स्नेहरहिते)

• घृत-सक्तुकान्: barley-meal balls mixed with ghee
• घृत-सक्तुकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घृत + सक्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (घृतेन/घृतयुक्ताः सक्तवः)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in the Uttara-bhaga context of vrata and tirtha-linked ritual duties)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none (general vrata completion)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It teaches that a vow is spiritually “complete” only when it is properly concluded—by finishing rites and generosity (dakṣiṇā and dāna), transforming personal austerity into dharmic giving.

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

By emphasizing sincere completion and charitable offering, it frames devotion as disciplined practice plus selfless giving—actions traditionally offered to the Divine and to dharma through service to priests and the needy.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Kalpa (ritual procedure): how a vrata is concluded (paripūrti), the role of dakṣiṇā, and timing tied to daily rites like the prātaḥ-snān (morning bath).