Kartik Mahatmya Adhyay 3: Why Kartik Is Best and the Theft of the Vedas

This is chapter 3 of the Kartik Mahatmya. Satyabhama asks why Kartik is the best of the twelve months and why Ekadashi is the dearest of all tithis. Krishna answers with the story Narada once told King Prithu, about the demon Shankhasura and the Vedas.

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संक्षेप में: कार्तिक सब महीनों में श्रेष्ठ क्यों है? शंखासुर वेद उठा ले गया, देवताओं ने भगवान विष्णु को जगाया और भगवान ने वचन दिया। पूरा लेख हिंदी में पढ़ें →

The story

After hearing of her past life, a new question rose in Satyabhama's mind. Why is Kartik alone the best of the twelve months? And why is Ekadashi dearest to the Lord among all the tithis? Krishna told her that King Prithu, son of Maharaj Vena, had once asked Devarshi Narada the same thing, and he repeated the story Narada gave in reply.

Long ago there was a mighty daitya named Shankhasura, a son of the ocean. By sheer strength he defeated all the gods and stripped Indra and the lokapalas of their powers. Terror spread through the three worlds. The gods took their families and hid in the caves of Mount Sumeru.

Shankhasura noticed that even in defeat the gods had not lost their radiance. He reasoned that the secret of their strength was the mantras of the Vedas, and that as long as they had the Vedas they would rise again. So he went to Satyaloka, the abode of Brahma, and carried the Vedas off. In fear, the Vedas hid in the waters of the ocean. Shankhasura searched the whole sea and found neither the Vedas nor the bija mantras. He went back empty-handed.

Brahma then took all the gods to Lord Vishnu, who lay in yoga-nidra on the bed of Sheshanaga. To wake him they sang, played the veena, mridang and conch, and worshipped him with incense, lamps and naivedya. Their devotion woke the Lord. Pleased, he told them to ask for a boon.

He said that anyone who rises at brahma muhurta in these days, bathes and worships him in this same way, with song, instruments, lamps and incense, would have every happiness and be dear to him. Then he made his promise. The Vedas were now in the water, and he would slay Shankhasura and bring them back. From then on, in every month of Kartik, the Vedas and bija mantras would dwell in water and he would dwell there with them. This, says the chapter, is why bathing in rivers and water in Kartik is so holy.

Saying this, the Lord took the form of Matsya and entered the ocean, with the gods and rishis following him. He said that one who bathes at dawn in Kartik gains the merit of the sacred bath taken at the close of great yajnas. He told Indra to protect those who keep the Kartik vow, and told Kuber to keep increasing their wealth and grain. One who follows this rule all his life, he said, becomes worthy of worship even for the gods.

That leaves the question of Ekadashi. Kartik Shukla Ekadashi is dearest to the Lord because that is the day the gods woke him. For this reason it is called Devuthani or Prabodhini Ekadashi. The Lord said that no other vow equals the vow of Kartik and Ekadashi, and that it brings a person close to him.

The teaching of this chapter

The chapter teaches that the Lord dwells in water during Kartik, so the daily bath is itself an act of meeting him. Its advice is simple. Bathe at dawn each day, show Lord Vishnu a lamp and incense, and if you can, sing one bhajan in his name.

What the chapter prescribes

• Rise at brahma muhurta in Kartik and bathe
• Worship Lord Vishnu with song, instruments, lamps and incense
• Keep the vow of Kartik and Ekadashi

Frequently asked questions

Who was Shankhasura?
He was a mighty daitya, a son of the ocean, who defeated all the gods and took away the powers of Indra and the lokapalas.

Why did Shankhasura go after the Vedas?
He saw that the gods kept their radiance even in defeat, and he decided that the mantras of the Vedas were the secret of their strength.

Why is bathing in Kartik considered so holy?
According to the chapter, Lord Vishnu declared that the Vedas and bija mantras would dwell in water every Kartik, and that he would dwell there with them.

Why is Kartik Shukla Ekadashi so dear to the Lord?
Because that is the day the gods woke him from yoga-nidra. It is called Devuthani or Prabodhini Ekadashi.

What duties did the Lord give Indra and Kuber?
Indra was told to protect those who keep the Kartik vow, and Kuber was told to keep increasing their wealth and grain.

Previous chapter: Adhyay 1 and 2: Gunavati and Satyabhama's Past Life
Next chapter: Adhyay 4: Matsya Avatar and the Return of the Vedas