Kartavya, Kartavyā: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Kartavya means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
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In Hinduism
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Kartavya (कर्तव्य) refers to “necessary (rules)” (for practicing prāṇāyāma), according to the Haṭhatattvakaumudī, an 18th-century text on Haṭhayoga consisting of fifty-six chapters and approximately 1680 verses.—The Haṭhatattvakaumudī has five chapters on prāṇāyāma (9, 10, 12, 37–38), namely, the preliminary auxiliaries and rules of practice for prāṇāyāma, an explanation of the names, nature and characteristics of kumbhakas, breathing methods for quelling suffering, necessary rules for Prāṇāyāma (kartavya-vidhi) and an explanation of prāṇāyāma, which total more than 240 verses.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Kartavyā (कर्तव्या) refers to “those (procedures) which should be followed”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.29 (“Śivā-Śiva dialogue”).—Accordingly, as Pārvatī said to Śiva: “[...] The planets were not worshipped by my father. Therefore a great defect occurred in our marriage in regard to the planets. Hence, O lord, you will celebrate marriage in accordance with the rules for the fulfilment of the task of the gods. The customary procedures of the marriage shall certainly be followed (kartavyā). Let Himavat know that an auspicious penance has been performed well by his daughter”.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Vedanta (school of philosophy)
Kartavya (कर्तव्य) refers to the “things that need doing”, according to the Aṣṭāvakragītā (5th century BC), an ancient text on spirituality dealing with Advaita-Vedānta topics.—Accordingly, [as Aṣṭavakra says to Janaka]: “[...] How can there be happiness, for one who is burnt inside by the blistering sun of the pain of things that need doing (kartavya-duḥkha) [kartavyaduḥkhamārtaṇḍajvālādagdhāntarātmanaḥ], without the rain of the nectar of peace? This existence is just imagination. It is nothing in reality, but there is no non-being for natures that know how to distinguish being from non being. [...]”.
Vedanta (वेदान्त, vedānta) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).
Dharmashastra (religious law)
Kartavya (कर्तव्य) refers to the “case/matter at hand (to be dealt with)”, according to the Bṛhaspati-smṛti which is cited in the Vīramitrodaya commentary (by Mitramiśra) on the Yājñavalkya-smṛti.—Accordingly, [in verse 2.68ff]: “One who, while a cause (kartavya) is being investigated, appears of his own accord and declares that he has witnessed the transaction is called ‘a spontaneous witness’ (yādṛcchika)”—[kriyamāṇe tu kartavye yaḥ kaścitsvayamāgataḥ | atra sākṣī tvamasmākamukto yādṛcchikastu saḥ].
Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Kartavya (कर्तव्य) refers to “that (offering) which must be made”, according to the 2nd-century Meghasūtra (“Cloud Sutra”) in those passages which contain ritual instructions.—Accordingly, “[...] with [this] ‘Heart of the snakes;’ the cloud-monarchs too must be depicted, emitting a shower, and rubbing against one another; at the end masses of rain-birds and lightning are to be painted; and parched rice canopied by the swastika, also fish and flesh, and honey-food without curds, and a sumptuous offering must be made (kartavya) there. [...]”
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Kartavya (कर्तव्य) refers to “that which has to be done”, according to the Aṣṭāhnikamahotsava (dealing with Festivals in Jain literature), which is included in the collection of manuscripts at the ‘Vincenzo Joppi’ library, collected by Luigi Pio Tessitori during his visit to Rajasthan between 1914 and 1919.—[...] After prohibitions come prescriptions on what has to be done (kartavya). This includes sāmāyika, poṣadha and worship of Jina images (jinapratimā pūjai)—which is fruitful even if performed in a non-Ārya region, as illustrated by the lengthy story of Ārdrakumāra: [...]
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
India history and geography
Kartavya.—(LP), derived from kṛt; ‘to be cut’. Note: kartavya is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
kartavya (कर्तव्य).—n Duty. a (Necessary) to be done. n Deed.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Kartavya (कर्तव्य).—a. What ought to be cut or lopped, fit to be destroyed or put down; पुत्रः सखा वा भ्राता वा पिता वा यदि वा गुरुः । रिपुस्थानेषु वर्तन्तः कर्तव्या भूतिमिच्छता (putraḥ sakhā vā bhrātā vā pitā vā yadi vā guruḥ | ripusthāneṣu vartantaḥ kartavyā bhūtimicchatā) || Mb.
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Kartavya (कर्तव्य).—pot. p. What is fit or ought to be done; हीनसेवा न कर्तव्या कर्तव्यो महदाश्रयः (hīnasevā na kartavyā kartavyo mahadāśrayaḥ) H.3.11; मया प्रात- र्निःसत्त्वं वनं कर्तव्यम् (mayā prāta- rniḥsattvaṃ vanaṃ kartavyam) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1.
-vyam, -kartavyatā What ought to be done, a duty, obligation; कर्तव्यं वो न पश्यामि (kartavyaṃ vo na paśyāmi) Ku. 6.61,2.62; Y.1.331.
Kartavya (कर्तव्य).—[adjective] to be made or done; [neuter] duty, task.
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Kartavya (कर्तव्य).—[adjective] to be made or done; [neuter] duty, task.
1) Kartavya (कर्तव्य):—[from kartave] and kartavya mfn. ([future] pass. p. of √1. kṛ q.v.) to be done or made or accomplished etc., [Taittirīya-saṃhitā; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Aitareya-brāhmaṇa; Manu-smṛti] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] n. that which ought to be done, obligation, duty, task, [Mahābhārata; Pañcatantra; Kathāsaritsāgara etc.]
Kartavya (कर्तव्य):—und kartavya (von 1. kar) adj. [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 3, 1, 96,] [Scholiast] zu machen, zu thun, zu vollbringen: na yajuḥ karta.yam [Taittirīyasaṃhitā 1, 5, 2, 4.] [Aitareyabrāhmaṇa 2, 3.] [The Śatapathabrāhmaṇa 2, 2, 3, 3.] (acc. unbest.). homaḥ [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 11, 222.] yoṣitā . na svātantryeṇa kartavyaṃ kiṃcitkāryaṃ gṛheṣvapi [5, 147.] [Rāmāyaṇa 3, 9, 18.] śaucam [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 5, 114.] aṃśaprakalpanā [8, 211.] vraṇaśodhanam [Suśruta 2, 100, 6.] damaḥ eine Strafe ist zu verhängen [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 9, 290.] nirviṣeṇāpi sarpeṇa kartavyā mahatī phaṭā [Pañcatantra I, 229.] na tasya doṣo kartavyaḥ [470.] kartavyā tapase matiḥ man hat die Gedanken auf Kasteiungen zu richten [Rāmāyaṇa 2, 28, 24.] nātrivarṣasya kartavyā bāndhavairudakakriyā die Wasserspende ist nicht darzubringen [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 5, 70.] mayā prātarniḥsattvaṃ vanaṃ kartavyam ich muss den Wald thierlos machen [Pañcatantra 55, 8.] [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 8, 64. 10, 51.] tasmātte tathā kartavyā (man muss mit ihnen so verfahren) yathā palāyamānā hanyamānāḥ svargaṃ na gacchanti [Pañcatantra 48, 4.] yadyevamiha kartavyam wenn man hier so verfahren kann, will [Nalopākhyāna 13, 44.] Das n. als subst. das Zuthuende, Obliegenheit, Aufgabe: muhūrtamiva saṃcintya kartavyasya viniścayam [Sundopasundopākhyāna 3, 10.] kartavyavimūḍhaḥ san [Kathāsaritsāgara 7, 65.] manasyāhitakartavyāḥ [Kumārasaṃbhava 2, 62.] kartavyaṃ sumahatkṛtam [Rāmāyaṇa 1, 34, 32.] na ca laghuṣvapi kartavyeṣu dhīmadbhiranādaraḥ kāryaḥ [Pañcatantra 202, 5.]
Kartavya (कर्तव्य):—und kartavya —
1) Adj. zu machen , — thun , — Vollbringen , auszuführen u.s.w. s.u. 1. kar. —
2) n. das Zuthuende , Obliegenheit , Aufgabe.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Kannada-English dictionary
Kartavya (ಕರ್ತವ್ಯ):—[noun] any action, task, etc. required by or relating to one’s occupation or position; that which ought to be done; duty.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Kartavya (कर्तव्य):—n. 1. duty; obligation; task; 2. murder; slaughter; misdeed;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+3): Kartavyabhrashta, Kartavyabhrashtate, Kartavyabhrashte, Kartavyacyuta, Kartavyacyute, Kartavyacyuti, Kartavyaduhkha, Kartavyalopa, Kartavyamudha, Kartavyamudhe, Kartavyanishth, Kartavyanishtha, Kartavyanishthe, Kartavyanushthana, Kartavyapaalan, Kartavyapalana, Kartavyaparayan, Kartavyaparayana, Kartavyaprajne, Kartavyasara.
Full-text (+233): Itikartavya, Prakartavya, Kartavyata, Kritakartavya, Yathakartavya, Dinakartavya, Kakshikartavya, Ahamkartavya, Kartavyatva, Pratikartavya, Satkartavya, Nikartavya, Tatkartavya, Svikartavya, Sakshatkartavya, Nirakartavya, Sthirikartavya, Punjikartavya, Kartavyanishtha, Kimkartavyata.
Relevant text
Search found 156 books and stories containing Kartavya, Kartavyā; (plurals include: Kartavyas, Kartavyās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Bhūmi 7: the far-gone ground (dūraṃgamā / dūraṅgamā) < [Chapter XX - (2nd series): Setting out on the Mahāyāna]
Appendix 5 - All dharmas are empty in self nature (svabhāvaśūnya) < [Chapter XXX - The Characteristics of Prajñā]
I. The emptiness of nonexistence (anupalambha-śūnyatā) < [Part 2 - The ten powers and the four fearlessnesses according to the Mahāyāna]
Brahma Archana Paddhati (text and translation) (by Prabhunath Dwivedi)
Special Dharmasastric maxims in the Narada Purana < [Purana, Volume 9, Part 1 (1967)]
Svalpa Matsya-purana (part 5) < [Purana, Volume 10, Part 2 (1968)]
Consideration on the settlement of Purana Text < [Purana, Volume 10, Part 1 (1968)]
Vishnudharmottara Purana (Art and Architecture) (by Bhagyashree Sarma)
7(b): Portrait of Different Classes Projected in Painting < [Chapter 5 - Painting and Image Making]
8(b): The Image of Various Gods < [Chapter 5 - Painting and Image Making]
7(d): Portrait of Different Places in Painting < [Chapter 5 - Painting and Image Making]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 86 < [Hindi-English-Nepali (1 volume)]
Page 994 < [Hindi-Kannada-English Volume 1]
Page 419 < [Hindi-Bengali-English Volume 1]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)