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Kārttikamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Unit 132 of 221Kārttikamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 35Kārttikamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 351 source entries

Kārttikamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 35

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।। ब्रह्मोवाच ।। ।। वैकुण्ठाख्यचतुर्दश्या माहात्म्यं ते वदाम्यहम् ।। वालखिल्यैः पुरा प्रोक्तं संक्षेपेण शृणुष्व तत् ।। १ ।। ।। वालखिल्या ऊचुः ।। ।। कार्तिकस्य सिते पक्षे चतुर्दश्यां समागमत् ।। वैकुण्ठेशस्तु वैकुण्ठाद्वाराणस्यां कृते युगे ।। २ ।। रात्र्यां तुर्यांशशेषायां स्नात्वाऽसौ मणिकर्णिके ।। गृहीत्वा हेमपद्मानां सहस्रं वै ततोऽव्रजत् ।। ३ ।। अतिभक्त्या पूजयितुं शिवया सहितं शिवम् ।। विधाय पूजां वैश्वेशीं ततः पद्मैरपूजयत् ।। ४ ।। सहस्रसंख्यां कृत्वादावेकनाम्ना ततः परम् ।। आरब्धं पूजनं तेन शिवस्तद्भक्तिमैक्षत ।। ५ ।। एकं पद्मं पद्ममध्यान्निलीयाऽऽत्तं हरेण तु ।। ततः पूजितवान्विष्णुरेकोनं कमलं त्वभूत् ।। ६ ।। इतस्ततस्तेन दृष्टं पद्मं तिष्ठति न क्वचित् ।। कमलेषु भ्रमो जातोऽथवा नामसु मे भ्रमः ।। ७ ।। क्षणं विचार्य स हरिर्न मे नामभ्रमोऽभवत् ।। पद्मे चैव भ्रमो जातो विचार्यैवं पुनःपुनः ।। ८ ।। सहस्रपद्मसंकल्पः पूजार्थं तु कृतो मया ।। अर्च्यः कथं महादेव एकोनकमलैर्मया ।। ९ ।। यद्यानेतुं गमिष्यामि भंगः स्यादासनस्य तु ।। अतः परं किं विधेयं चिन्तोद्विग्नो हरिस्तदा ।। 2.4.35.१० ।। एकः प्रकार उत्पन्नो हृदयेऽस्य मुनीश्वराः ।। पुण्डरीकाक्ष इत्येवं मां वदंति मुनीश्वराः ।। ११ ।। नेत्रं मे पद्मसदृशे पद्मार्थे त्वर्पयाम्यहम् ।। इति निश्चित्य मनसा दत्त्वा तर्जनिकां स तु ।। १२ ।। नेत्रमध्यात्तदुत्पाट्य महादेवस्तु पूजितः ।। ततो महेश्वरस्तुष्टो वाक्यमेतदुवाच ह ।। १३ ।। ।। महादेव उवाच ।। ।। त्वत्समो नास्ति मद्भक्तस्त्रैलोक्ये सचराचरे ।। राज्यं दत्तं त्रिलोक्यास्ते भव त्वं लोकपालकः ।। १४ ।। अन्यं वरय भद्रं ते वरं यन्मनसेप्सितम् ।। अवश्यमेव दास्यामि नात्र कार्या विचारणा ।। १५ ।। मद्भक्तिं तु समालंब्य ये द्विषंति जनार्दनम् ।। ते मद्द्वेष्या नरा विष्णो व्रजेयुर्नरकं ध्रुवम् ।। १६ ।। ।। ।। विष्णुरुवाच ।। ।। त्रैलोक्यरक्षाकरणं ममादिष्टं महेश्वर ।। दुमर्दाश्च महासत्त्वा दैत्या मार्याः कथं मया ।।१७।।। ।। शिव उवाच ।। ।। एतत्सुदर्शनं चक्रं महादैत्यनिकृंतनम् ।। गृहाण भगवन्विष्णो मया तुभ्य निवेदितम् ।।१८।। अनेन सर्वदैत्यानां भगवन्कदनं कुरु ।। एवं चक्रं हरेर्दत्त्वा ततो वचनमब्रवीत् ।। १९ ।। ।। शिव उवाच ।। ।। वर्षे च हेमलंबाख्ये मासे श्रीमति कार्तिके ।। शुक्लपक्षे चतुर्दश्यामरुणाभ्युदयं प्रति ।।2.4.35.२०।। महादेवतिथौ ब्राह्मे मुहूर्ते मणिकर्णिके ।। स्नात्वा वैश्वेश्वरं लिंगं वैकुण्ठादेत्य पूजितम्।।२१।। सहस्रकमलैस्तस्माद्भविष्यति मम प्रिया ।। विख्याता सर्वलोकेषु वैकुण्ठाख्या चतुर्दशी ।।२२।। अन्यं वरं प्रयच्छामि शृणु विष्णो वचो मम ।। पूर्वरात्रेषु ते पूजा कर्तव्या सर्वजातिभिः ।।२३।। उपवासं दिवा कुर्यात्सायंकाले तवार्चनम् ।। पश्चान्ममार्चनं कार्यमन्यथा निष्फलं भवेत् ।। २४ ।। ग्राह्या तु हरिपूजायां रात्रिव्याप्ता चतुर्दशी ।। अरुणोदयवेलायां शिवपूजां समाचरेत् ।। २५ ।। सहस्रकमलैर्विष्णुरादौ यैः पूजितो नरैः।। पश्चाच्छिवः पूजितश्चेज्जीवन्मुक्तास्त एव हि ।। २६ ।। सायं स्नात्वा पंचनदे बिंदुमाधवमर्चयेत् ।। स्नात्वा यो विष्णुकांच्यां वाऽनंतसेनं समर्चयेत् ।। २७ ।। रुद्रकांच्यां ततः स्नात्वा प्रणवेशं समर्चयेत् ।। आदौ स्नात्वा वह्नितीर्थे यजेन्नारायणं ततः ।। २८ ।। रेतोदके ततः स्नात्वा केदारेशं समर्चयेत् ।। आदौ स्नात्वा सूर्यपुत्र्यां वेणीमाधवमर्चयेत् ।। २९ ।। जाह्नव्यां च ततः स्नात्वा संगमेशं प्रपूजयेत् ।। सर्वाः श्रियस्तस्य वश्याः सत्यं विष्णो मयोदितम् ।। 2.4.35.३० ।। एवं तस्मै वरान्दत्त्वा ह्यंतर्धानं ययौ शिवः ।। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन पूज्यौ हरिहरावुभौ ।। ३१ ।। कलौ दशसहस्राणि विष्णुस्त्यजति मेदिनीम् ।। तदर्द्धं जाह्नवीतोयं तदर्द्धं ग्रामदेवताः ।। ३२ ।। कार्तिक्यां पूर्णिमायां तु कुर्यात्त्रैपुरमुत्सवम् ।। दीपो देयोऽवश्यमेव सायंकाले शिवालये ।। ३३ ।। * त्रिपुरो नाम दैत्येंद्रः प्रयागे तप आस्थितः ।। तपसा तस्य संतुष्टो ददौ ब्रह्मा वरं परम्।। ३४ ।। देवासुरमनुष्येभ्यो न ते मृत्युर्भविष्यति ।। इति लब्धवरो दैत्यो विश्वकर्मविनिर्मितम् ।। ३५ ।। त्रिपुराख्यं विमानं तमारुह्य भुवनत्रयम् ।। यदा वै पीडयामास तदा देवैः स्तुतो हरः ।। ३६ ।। त्रिपुरं घातयामास बाणेनैकेन शत्रुहा ।। कार्तिक्यां पूर्णिमायां तु सर्वे देवाः प्रतुष्टुवुः ।। ३७ ।। तस्मिन्दिने सर्वदेवैर्दीपा दत्ता हराय च ।। सर्वथैव प्रदेयाश्च दीपास्तु हरतुष्टये ।। ३८ ।। विंशतिः सप्तशतकाः सहिता दीपवर्तयः ।। ददद्दीपं पूर्णिमायां सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते ।। ३९ ।। पौर्णमास्यां तु संध्यायां कर्तव्यस्त्रिपुरोत्सवः ।। दद्यादनेन मन्त्रेण प्रदीपांश्च सुरालये ।। 2.4.35.४० ।। कीटाः पतंगा मशकाश्च वृक्षा जले स्थले ये विचरंति जीवाः ।। दृष्ट्वा प्रदीपं न च जन्मभागिनो भवंतु नित्यं श्वपचा हि विप्राः ।। ४१ ।। कार्यस्तस्मात्पौर्णमास्यां त्रिपुराय महोत्सवः ।। कार्तिक्यां कृत्तिकायोगे यः कुर्यात्स्वामिदर्शनम् ।। ।। ४२ ।। सप्त जन्म भवेद्विप्रो धनाढ्यो वेदपारगः ।। अत्र कृत्वा वृषोत्सर्गं नक्ताच्छैवपुरं व्रजेत् ।। ४३ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे कार्तिकमासमाहात्म्ये वैकुण्ठचतुर्दशी त्रिपुरीपूर्णिमाव्रतविधानकथनंनाम पंचत्रिंशोऽध्यायः ।। ३५ ।।

|| brahmovāca || || vaikuṇṭhākhyacaturdaśyā māhātmyaṃ te vadāmyaham || vālakhilyaiḥ purā proktaṃ saṃkṣepeṇa śṛṇuṣva tat || 1 || || vālakhilyā ūcuḥ || || kārtikasya site pakṣe caturdaśyāṃ samāgamat || vaikuṇṭheśastu vaikuṇṭhādvārāṇasyāṃ kṛte yuge || 2 || rātryāṃ turyāṃśaśeṣāyāṃ snātvā'sau maṇikarṇike || gṛhītvā hemapadmānāṃ sahasraṃ vai tato'vrajat || 3 || atibhaktyā pūjayituṃ śivayā sahitaṃ śivam || vidhāya pūjāṃ vaiśveśīṃ tataḥ padmairapūjayat || 4 || sahasrasaṃkhyāṃ kṛtvādāvekanāmnā tataḥ param || ārabdhaṃ pūjanaṃ tena śivastadbhaktimaikṣata || 5 || ekaṃ padmaṃ padmamadhyānnilīyā''ttaṃ hareṇa tu || tataḥ pūjitavānviṣṇurekonaṃ kamalaṃ tvabhūt || 6 || itastatastena dṛṣṭaṃ padmaṃ tiṣṭhati na kvacit || kamaleṣu bhramo jāto'thavā nāmasu me bhramaḥ || 7 || kṣaṇaṃ vicārya sa harirna me nāmabhramo'bhavat || padme caiva bhramo jāto vicāryaivaṃ punaḥpunaḥ || 8 || sahasrapadmasaṃkalpaḥ pūjārthaṃ tu kṛto mayā || arcyaḥ kathaṃ mahādeva ekonakamalairmayā || 9 || yadyānetuṃ gamiṣyāmi bhaṃgaḥ syādāsanasya tu || ataḥ paraṃ kiṃ vidheyaṃ cintodvigno haristadā || 2.4.35.10 || ekaḥ prakāra utpanno hṛdaye'sya munīśvarāḥ || puṇḍarīkākṣa ityevaṃ māṃ vadaṃti munīśvarāḥ || 11 || netraṃ me padmasadṛśe padmārthe tvarpayāmyaham || iti niścitya manasā dattvā tarjanikāṃ sa tu || 12 || netramadhyāttadutpāṭya mahādevastu pūjitaḥ || tato maheśvarastuṣṭo vākyametaduvāca ha || 13 || || mahādeva uvāca || || tvatsamo nāsti madbhaktastrailokye sacarācare || rājyaṃ dattaṃ trilokyāste bhava tvaṃ lokapālakaḥ || 14 || anyaṃ varaya bhadraṃ te varaṃ yanmanasepsitam || avaśyameva dāsyāmi nātra kāryā vicāraṇā || 15 || madbhaktiṃ tu samālaṃbya ye dviṣaṃti janārdanam || te maddveṣyā narā viṣṇo vrajeyurnarakaṃ dhruvam || 16 || || || viṣṇuruvāca || || trailokyarakṣākaraṇaṃ mamādiṣṭaṃ maheśvara || dumardāśca mahāsattvā daityā māryāḥ kathaṃ mayā ||17||| || śiva uvāca || || etatsudarśanaṃ cakraṃ mahādaityanikṛṃtanam || gṛhāṇa bhagavanviṣṇo mayā tubhya niveditam ||18|| anena sarvadaityānāṃ bhagavankadanaṃ kuru || evaṃ cakraṃ harerdattvā tato vacanamabravīt || 19 || || śiva uvāca || || varṣe ca hemalaṃbākhye māse śrīmati kārtike || śuklapakṣe caturdaśyāmaruṇābhyudayaṃ prati ||2.4.35.20|| mahādevatithau brāhme muhūrte maṇikarṇike || snātvā vaiśveśvaraṃ liṃgaṃ vaikuṇṭhādetya pūjitam||21|| sahasrakamalaistasmādbhaviṣyati mama priyā || vikhyātā sarvalokeṣu vaikuṇṭhākhyā caturdaśī ||22|| anyaṃ varaṃ prayacchāmi śṛṇu viṣṇo vaco mama || pūrvarātreṣu te pūjā kartavyā sarvajātibhiḥ ||23|| upavāsaṃ divā kuryātsāyaṃkāle tavārcanam || paścānmamārcanaṃ kāryamanyathā niṣphalaṃ bhavet || 24 || grāhyā tu haripūjāyāṃ rātrivyāptā caturdaśī || aruṇodayavelāyāṃ śivapūjāṃ samācaret || 25 || sahasrakamalairviṣṇurādau yaiḥ pūjito naraiḥ|| paścācchivaḥ pūjitaścejjīvanmuktāsta eva hi || 26 || sāyaṃ snātvā paṃcanade biṃdumādhavamarcayet || snātvā yo viṣṇukāṃcyāṃ vā'naṃtasenaṃ samarcayet || 27 || rudrakāṃcyāṃ tataḥ snātvā praṇaveśaṃ samarcayet || ādau snātvā vahnitīrthe yajennārāyaṇaṃ tataḥ || 28 || retodake tataḥ snātvā kedāreśaṃ samarcayet || ādau snātvā sūryaputryāṃ veṇīmādhavamarcayet || 29 || jāhnavyāṃ ca tataḥ snātvā saṃgameśaṃ prapūjayet || sarvāḥ śriyastasya vaśyāḥ satyaṃ viṣṇo mayoditam || 2.4.35.30 || evaṃ tasmai varāndattvā hyaṃtardhānaṃ yayau śivaḥ || tasmātsarvaprayatnena pūjyau hariharāvubhau || 31 || kalau daśasahasrāṇi viṣṇustyajati medinīm || tadarddhaṃ jāhnavītoyaṃ tadarddhaṃ grāmadevatāḥ || 32 || kārtikyāṃ pūrṇimāyāṃ tu kuryāttraipuramutsavam || dīpo deyo'vaśyameva sāyaṃkāle śivālaye || 33 || * tripuro nāma daityeṃdraḥ prayāge tapa āsthitaḥ || tapasā tasya saṃtuṣṭo dadau brahmā varaṃ param|| 34 || devāsuramanuṣyebhyo na te mṛtyurbhaviṣyati || iti labdhavaro daityo viśvakarmavinirmitam || 35 || tripurākhyaṃ vimānaṃ tamāruhya bhuvanatrayam || yadā vai pīḍayāmāsa tadā devaiḥ stuto haraḥ || 36 || tripuraṃ ghātayāmāsa bāṇenaikena śatruhā || kārtikyāṃ pūrṇimāyāṃ tu sarve devāḥ pratuṣṭuvuḥ || 37 || tasmindine sarvadevairdīpā dattā harāya ca || sarvathaiva pradeyāśca dīpāstu haratuṣṭaye || 38 || viṃśatiḥ saptaśatakāḥ sahitā dīpavartayaḥ || dadaddīpaṃ pūrṇimāyāṃ sarvapāpaiḥ pramucyate || 39 || paurṇamāsyāṃ tu saṃdhyāyāṃ kartavyastripurotsavaḥ || dadyādanena mantreṇa pradīpāṃśca surālaye || 2.4.35.40 || kīṭāḥ pataṃgā maśakāśca vṛkṣā jale sthale ye vicaraṃti jīvāḥ || dṛṣṭvā pradīpaṃ na ca janmabhāgino bhavaṃtu nityaṃ śvapacā hi viprāḥ || 41 || kāryastasmātpaurṇamāsyāṃ tripurāya mahotsavaḥ || kārtikyāṃ kṛttikāyoge yaḥ kuryātsvāmidarśanam || || 42 || sapta janma bhavedvipro dhanāḍhyo vedapāragaḥ || atra kṛtvā vṛṣotsargaṃ naktācchaivapuraṃ vrajet || 43 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe kārtikamāsamāhātmye vaikuṇṭhacaturdaśī tripurīpūrṇimāvratavidhānakathanaṃnāma paṃcatriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ || 35 ||

English translation

Brahmā said :

1. I shall relate succinctly the greatness of the Vrata called Vaikuṇṭha Caturdaśī. [1] It has been formerly described by Vālakhilyas . Listen to it.

Vālakhilyas said :

2. On the fourteenth day in the bright half of the month of Kārttika in Kṛtayuga the Lord of Vaikuṇṭha came to Vārāṇasī .

3-5. When the night still remained in the fourth quarter, he took his bath in Maṇikarṇikā (name of a bathing place on Gaṅgā ). Taking a thousand golden lotuses with him, he went with great devotion to worship Śiva accompanied by Śivā .

After performing the worship of Viśveśa he (wanted to) worship (Śiva) with lotuses. He (counted) a thousand lotuses (to be placed on Śiva), one for one of Śiva’s names. Afterwards, the actual worship was begun by him. Śiva (wanted to) test his devotion.

6. From among the lotuses, one lotus was secretly taken away by Hara . Then Viṣṇu began his worship. There was shortage of the lotuses by one.

7. He looked for it here and there, but there was no lotus anywhere. He thought within himself thus for a moment, 'Have I erred in counting the lotuses or reciting the names?’

8-10. Then he thought thus: ‘There has been no mistake in reciting the names. The mistake is in counting the lotuses.’

Again he thought thus: ‘I resolved at the outset for a worship with a thousand lotuses. How shall Mahādeva be worshipped when lotuses are short by one. If I go to fetch one, I will have to break the rule of continuous sitting. Now what should be done?’ Thus Hari was worried with that thought then.

11-13. O great sages, a way out occurred to his mind: ‘Great sages call me Puṇḍarīkākṣa (Lotus-eyed). My eye is similar to a lotus. I shall offer it in the place of the (missing lotus).’ Mentally resolving thus, he dislodged the eye with his index finger. With that Mahādeva was worshipped by him. Then Maheśvara became pleased and spoke these words:

Mahādeva said :

14. In all the three worlds consisting of mobile and immobile beings, there is no one else so devoted to me like you. The entire kingdom of the three worlds is granted to you. Be the protector of the worlds.

15. Choose another boon whatever may be desired by you in your mind. Welfare unto you. Certainly I shall grant it. There is no doubt about it.

16. Those men who have recourse to my devotion but who hate Janārdana are inimical to me, O Viṣṇu. They shall certainly fall into hell.

Viṣṇu said :

17. O Maheśvara, the duty of protecting the three worlds has been assigned to me. Daityas are very haughty. They have enormous strength. How can they be killed by me?

Śiva said :

18-19. This discus Sudarśana is capable of cutting down the great Daityas. It is given to you by me. O Lord Viṣṇu, accept this. Work a havoc among Daityas with this, O Lord.

Thus he gave the discus to Hari and spoke these words:

Śiva said :

20-22. In the year named Hemalamba, on the fourteenth day in the bright half of the glorious month of Kārttika at the time of dawn, on the Tithi pertaining to Mahādeva (i.e. the fourteenth one) in the Brāhma Muhūrta (i.e. 48 mts. before sunrise) you took your bath in Maṇikarṇikā after coming here from Vaikuṇṭha. Then the Liṅga of Viśveśvara was worshipped with a thousand lotuses. Hence it will become a favourite of mine. It shall be famous in all the worlds as Vaikuṇṭha Caturdaśī.

23-24. Listen, O Viṣṇu, I shall grant you another boon. Listen to my words: In the earlier part of the nights your worship should be performed by persons of all castes. They shall observe fast during the day and perform your worship in the evening. Afterwards my worship is to be performed. Otherwise it (my worship) shall be futile.

25. For the purpose of the worship of Hari, the Caturdaśī extending to the night should be taken. The devotee shall worship Śiva at the time of dawn.

26. Those men by whom Viṣṇu is worshipped at the outset with a thousand lotuses and then Śiva is worshipped afterwards are indeed living-liberated souls.

27-31. After taking the bath in the evening in Pañcanada , the devotee should worship Bindumādhava . He who takes his bath in Viṣṇukāñcī shall worship Anantasena. Thereafter he shall take his bath in Rudrakāñcī and worship Praṇaveśa.

First the devotee should take bath in Vahnitīrtha and then worship Nārāyaṇa . Thereafter he should take bath in Retodaka and worship Kedāreśa.

At the outset the devotee should take bath in Yamunā and worship Veṇīmādhava . Then he should take bath in Gaṅgā and worship Saṅgameśa . All riches and prosperity shall be under his control. O Viṣṇu, the truth is spoken by me.

After granting him boons thus Śiva vanished. Hence both Hari and Hara are to be worshipped with all efforts.

32. In Kaliyuga Viṣṇu abandons the earth for (after?) ten thousand years, the waters of Gaṅgā for half that period and the rural deities for half of the latter.

33. On the full-moon day in the month of Kārttika Traipura [2] festival is to be celebrated. In the evening lamps must be lighted in a Śiva temple.

34. A prominent Daitya named Tripura performed a penance at Prayāga . Pleased with his penance, Brahmā granted him a great boon.

35-36. “Your death will not be at the hands of Devas , Asuras or human beings.” This was the boon that the Daitya got. He got into the aerial chariot named Tripura, made by Viśvakarmā . When he harassed the three worlds riding in it, Hara was eulogized by the Devas.

37. The slayer of enemies killed Tripura with a single arrow on the full-moon day in the month of Kārttika. All the Devas eulogized him.

38. On that day lamps were offered to Hara by all the Devas. By all means, lamps should be offered for propitiating Śiva.

39. One who offers a lamp with seven hundred and twenty lighted wicks on the full-moon day, shall be liberated from all sins.

40-43. The Tripura festival is to be celebrated at dusk on the full-moon day. Reciting this (following) Mantra , lamps should be lighted in the temple:

“May worms, locusts, mosquitoes, trees and the living beings that move about in water or on land, all cease to have re-birth on seeing the lamp. Let Cāṇḍālas become Brāhmaṇas .”

Therefore, the great festival of Tripura should be celebrated on the full-moon day.

He who sees the Lord on the full-moon day in conjunction with Kṛttikā constellation, shall for seven births be a Brāhmaṇa very rich and master of the Veda .

On this day if one performs the rite of Vṛṣotsarga (setting a bull free to roam about freely) at night, shall go to the city of Śiva.

[1]: [1] : The episode how Viṣṇu plucked out one of his eyes as a substitute for the 1000th lotus to be offered to Lord Śiva on this day is indicative of the synthetic spirit of the day. The great Kārttika Vrata so dear to Viṣṇu is concluded by showing how that god Viṣṇu is a devotee of Śiva. We are required to worship Viṣṇu and Śiva both on that day (vv 26-31).

[2]: [2] : Illumination on the full-moon day of Kārttika is done to celebrate of the killing of demon Tripura by Śiva. It is called Trīpurī Pūrṇimā and all important places are illuminated with hundreds of lamps. The writer follows Pūrṇimānta calendar in which a month ends with the full-moon day. The Kārttika Vrata ends with Kārttika Pūrnimā.

Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 23014, revision 293936 (2020-11-23T22:16:09Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371677.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.