Karwa Chauth Vrat Katha
करवा चौथ व्रत कथा
The Karwa Chauth vrat katha is the story married women read or hear on Karwa Chauth evening, before the moon rises. Its main story is of Veeravati, whose seven brothers tricked her into breaking her fast with a false moon, and who won her husband back by keeping the fast faithfully. A shorter second story tells how a devoted wife named Karva saved her husband from a crocodile.
- 17 verses
- 10 min
- Traditional story; this retelling is by Nitya
Bahut purane samay ki baat hai. Ek nagar mein ek sahukar rehta tha. Uske saat bete the aur ek beti, jiska naam Veeravati tha. Saaton bhai apni iklauti behan ko bahut pyaar karte the aur use khilaye bina khud khana nahin khate the.बहुत पुराने समय की बात है। एक नगर में एक साहूकार रहता था। उसके सात बेटे थे और एक बेटी, जिसका नाम वीरावती था। सातों भाई अपनी इकलौती बहन को बहुत प्यार करते थे और उसे खिलाए बिना ख़ुद खाना नहीं खाते थे।
Long ago, a merchant lived in a town with his seven sons and one daughter, Veeravati. The seven brothers adored their only sister. They would not eat a meal until she had eaten first.
Veeravati ka vivah hua. Vivah ke baad jab pehla Karwa Chauth aaya, tab vah apne maayke mein thi. Usne apni bhabhiyon ke saath subah se nirjal vrat rakha. Din bhar na kuchh khaya, na paani piya.वीरावती का विवाह हुआ। विवाह के बाद जब पहला करवा चौथ आया, तब वह अपने मायके में थी। उसने अपनी भाभियों के साथ सुबह से निर्जल व्रत रखा। दिन भर न कुछ खाया, न पानी पिया।
Veeravati was married. When her first Karwa Chauth came, she was staying at her parents' home. Along with her brothers' wives she kept the fast from dawn, with no food and not even a sip of water all day.
Shaam hote-hote bhookh aur pyaas se Veeravati behaal ho gayi. Bhai ghar laute to behan ko murjhaya hua dekhkar unse raha nahin gaya. Unhone kaha, “Behan, kuchh kha lo.” Veeravati boli, “Aaj Karwa Chauth hai. Chaand ko arghya dekar hi khaungi.”शाम होते-होते भूख और प्यास से वीरावती बेहाल हो गई। भाई घर लौटे तो बहन को मुरझाया हुआ देखकर उनसे रहा नहीं गया। उन्होंने कहा, “बहन, कुछ खा लो।” वीरावती बोली, “आज करवा चौथ है। चाँद को अर्घ्य देकर ही खाऊँगी।”
By evening Veeravati was weak with hunger and thirst. When her brothers came home and saw her drooping, they could not bear it. “Sister, eat something,” they said. “It is Karwa Chauth today,” she replied. “I will eat only after I offer water to the moon.”
Chaand nikalne mein abhi bahut der thi. Bhaiyon ne ek upaay socha. Sabse chhota bhai door ek peepal ke ped par chadh gaya aur usne diya jalakar chhalni ki ot mein rakh diya. Door se vah roshni aisi lagti thi, jaise chaand nikal aaya ho.चाँद निकलने में अभी बहुत देर थी। भाइयों ने एक उपाय सोचा। सबसे छोटा भाई दूर एक पीपल के पेड़ पर चढ़ गया और उसने दीया जलाकर छलनी की ओट में रख दिया। दूर से वह रोशनी ऐसी लगती थी, जैसे चाँद निकल आया हो।
The moon was still a long way from rising, so the brothers made a plan. The youngest climbed a peepal tree some distance away, lit a lamp and held it behind a sieve. From far off, the glow looked just like the rising moon.
Bhai behan ke paas aaye aur bole, “Dekho, chaand nikal aaya hai. Arghya de do.” Bhabhiyon ne use samjhana chaha ki yah chaand nahin hai, par bholi Veeravati ne bhaiyon ki baat maan li. Usne us roshni ko arghya diya aur khana khane baith gayi.भाई बहन के पास आए और बोले, “देखो, चाँद निकल आया है। अर्घ्य दे दो।” भाभियों ने उसे समझाना चाहा कि यह चाँद नहीं है, पर भोली वीरावती ने भाइयों की बात मान ली। उसने उस रोशनी को अर्घ्य दिया और खाना खाने बैठ गई।
“Look, the moon is up,” the brothers told her. “Make your offering.” Her sisters-in-law tried to tell her it was not the moon, but trusting Veeravati believed her brothers. She offered water to the light and sat down to eat.
Pehle kaur mein baal nikla. Doosre kaur par use chheenk aa gayi. Teesra kaur uthaya hi tha ki sasural se khabar aayi ki uske pati ab is sansar mein nahin rahe.पहले कौर में बाल निकला। दूसरे कौर पर उसे छींक आ गई। तीसरा कौर उठाया ही था कि ससुराल से ख़बर आई कि उसके पति अब इस संसार में नहीं रहे।
In the first mouthful she found a hair. At the second she sneezed. She had just lifted the third when word came from her husband's home that he had died.
Veeravati roti-bilakhti sasural pahunchi. Usi raat Indra ki patni, Devi Indrani, dharti par aayin. Veeravati ne unke charan pakad liye aur poochha, “Mere saath aisa kyon hua?” Indrani ne kaha, “Tumne asli chaand dekhe bina vrat khol diya. Tumhare bhaiyon ne prem mein aakar tumse chhal kiya tha.”वीरावती रोती-बिलखती ससुराल पहुँची। उसी रात इंद्र की पत्नी, देवी इंद्राणी, धरती पर आईं। वीरावती ने उनके चरण पकड़ लिए और पूछा, “मेरे साथ ऐसा क्यों हुआ?” इंद्राणी ने कहा, “तुमने असली चाँद देखे बिना व्रत खोल दिया। तुम्हारे भाइयों ने प्रेम में आकर तुमसे छल किया था।”
Weeping, Veeravati hurried to her husband's home. That night Indrani, queen of the gods, came down to earth. Veeravati fell at her feet and asked why this had happened to her. Indrani said, “You broke your fast without seeing the real moon. Out of love, your brothers tricked you.”
Many families tell this part with Mother Parvati, or Karva Mata, in place of Indrani. The lesson of the story is the same.
Indrani ne aage kaha, “Ab poore varsh har mahine ki chauth ka vrat shraddha se rakho. Agle Karwa Chauth par poore niyam se vrat karo aur asli chaand ko arghya do. Tab tumhara suhaag laut aayega.”इंद्राणी ने आगे कहा, “अब पूरे वर्ष हर महीने की चौथ का व्रत श्रद्धा से रखो। अगले करवा चौथ पर पूरे नियम से व्रत करो और असली चाँद को अर्घ्य दो। तब तुम्हारा सुहाग लौट आएगा।”
Indrani went on, “For a whole year, keep the fast of every month's Chauth with faith. Next Karwa Chauth, keep the fast fully and offer water to the real moon. Then your husband will be returned to you.”
Veeravati ne kisi ko apne pati ka daah-sanskar nahin karne diya. Vah poore varsh unke paas baithi rahi, unki seva karti rahi aur har mahine ki chauth ka vrat rakhti rahi. Man hi man vah Karwa Mata ka smaran karti rehti thi.वीरावती ने किसी को अपने पति का दाह-संस्कार नहीं करने दिया। वह पूरे वर्ष उनके पास बैठी रही, उनकी सेवा करती रही और हर महीने की चौथ का व्रत रखती रही। मन ही मन वह करवा माता का स्मरण करती रहती थी।
Veeravati would not let anyone cremate her husband. For a whole year she sat beside him and cared for him, and she kept the Chauth fast every month. In her heart she prayed to Karva Mata all the while.
Phir Karwa Chauth aaya. Is baar Veeravati ne subah se nirjal vrat rakha, shaam ko karva bharkar Gauri Maa ki pooja ki aur katha suni. Jab asli chaand nikla, tab usne chhalni se chaand ko dekha aur arghya diya.फिर करवा चौथ आया। इस बार वीरावती ने सुबह से निर्जल व्रत रखा, शाम को करवा भरकर गौरी माँ की पूजा की और कथा सुनी। जब असली चाँद निकला, तब उसने छलनी से चाँद को देखा और अर्घ्य दिया।
Karwa Chauth came round again. This time Veeravati fasted without water from dawn. In the evening she filled the karva, worshipped Gauri and listened to the katha. When the real moon rose, she looked at it through a sieve and offered it water.
Uski sachchi shraddha se Karwa Mata prasann huin. Unke aashirvaad se Veeravati ka pati aise uth baitha, jaise gehri neend se jaaga ho. Kehte hain, tabhi se suhaagin yah vrat poore niyam se rakhti hain aur chaand ko dekhkar, arghya dekar hi vrat kholti hain.उसकी सच्ची श्रद्धा से करवा माता प्रसन्न हुईं। उनके आशीर्वाद से वीरावती का पति ऐसे उठ बैठा, जैसे गहरी नींद से जागा हो। कहते हैं, तभी से सुहागिनें यह व्रत पूरे नियम से रखती हैं और चाँद को देखकर, अर्घ्य देकर ही व्रत खोलती हैं।
Karva Mata was pleased by her true devotion. With her blessing, Veeravati's husband sat up as if waking from a deep sleep. It is said that ever since, married women keep this fast with care and break it only after seeing the moon and offering it water.
Ab Karwa Mata ki doosri katha suniye. Bahut pehle ek nadi ke kinare base gaon mein Karva naam ki ek pativrata stri apne pati ke saath rehti thi. Ek din uska pati nadi mein nahane gaya.अब करवा माता की दूसरी कथा सुनिए। बहुत पहले एक नदी के किनारे बसे गाँव में करवा नाम की एक पतिव्रता स्त्री अपने पति के साथ रहती थी। एक दिन उसका पति नदी में नहाने गया।
Now hear the second story of Karva Mata. Long ago, in a village by a river, there lived a devoted wife named Karva with her husband. One day her husband went to bathe in the river.
This is a separate, shorter story, told in many families after the story of Veeravati. Here Karva is a woman's name; the same word also means the clay pot used in the puja.
Nahate samay ek magarmachh ne uska pair pakad liya aur use paani mein kheenchne laga. Pati ne zor se Karva ko pukara. Karva daudkar aayi aur usne kachche soot ke dhaage se magar ko baandh diya. Uske satitva ke bal se magar aisa bandha ki hil bhi na saka.नहाते समय एक मगरमच्छ ने उसका पैर पकड़ लिया और उसे पानी में खींचने लगा। पति ने ज़ोर से करवा को पुकारा। करवा दौड़कर आई और उसने कच्चे सूत के धागे से मगर को बाँध दिया। उसके सतीत्व के बल से मगर ऐसा बँधा कि हिल भी न सका।
As he bathed, a crocodile seized his leg and began to drag him under. He shouted for Karva. She came running and tied up the crocodile with a thread of raw cotton. By the strength of her devotion, the thread held it so fast that it could not move.
Phir Karva Yamraj ke paas pahunchi aur boli, “He Yamraj, is magar ne mere pati ko pakda hai. Ise apne lok le jaiye aur mere pati ko lambi aayu dijiye.” Yamraj ne kaha, “Abhi is magar ki aayu baaki hai. Main ise nahin le ja sakta.”फिर करवा यमराज के पास पहुँची और बोली, “हे यमराज, इस मगर ने मेरे पति को पकड़ा है। इसे अपने लोक ले जाइए और मेरे पति को लंबी आयु दीजिए।” यमराज ने कहा, “अभी इस मगर की आयु बाक़ी है। मैं इसे नहीं ले जा सकता।”
Then Karva went to Yama, the lord of death. “This crocodile has seized my husband,” she said. “Take it to your realm and grant my husband a long life.” Yama answered, “The crocodile's time has not yet come. I cannot take it.”
Karva ne kaha, “Yadi aap aisa nahin karenge, to main aapko shaap de doongi.” Pativrata ke shaap se Yamraj bhi dar gaye. Unhone magar ko Yamlok bhej diya aur Karva ke pati ko lambi aayu ka vardaan diya.करवा ने कहा, “यदि आप ऐसा नहीं करेंगे, तो मैं आपको शाप दे दूँगी।” पतिव्रता के शाप से यमराज भी डर गए। उन्होंने मगर को यमलोक भेज दिया और करवा के पति को लंबी आयु का वरदान दिया।
“If you will not do it,” said Karva, “I will curse you.” Even Yama feared the curse of so devoted a wife. He sent the crocodile to his realm and blessed Karva's husband with a long life.
Tabhi se Karva ko Karwa Mata ke roop mein yaad kiya jata hai. Karwa Chauth par suhaagin unse apne pati ki raksha aur lambi aayu ki prarthana karti hain.तभी से करवा को करवा माता के रूप में याद किया जाता है। करवा चौथ पर सुहागिनें उनसे अपने पति की रक्षा और लंबी आयु की प्रार्थना करती हैं।
Since then Karva has been remembered as Karva Mata. On Karwa Chauth, married women pray to her to protect their husbands and give them long life.
He Karwa Mata, jaise aapne Veeravati ka suhaag lautaya aur Karva ke pati ki raksha ki, vaise hi sabke suhaag ki raksha karna. Bolo Karwa Mata ki jai!हे करवा माता, जैसे आपने वीरावती का सुहाग लौटाया और करवा के पति की रक्षा की, वैसे ही सबके सुहाग की रक्षा करना। बोलो करवा माता की जय!
O Karva Mata, as you gave Veeravati back her husband and protected Karva's husband, so protect every married woman's husband. Say: glory to Karva Mata!
Families end the katha with a closing line like this one, in their own words. Many then bow to the karva and to the elders.
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Questions
Can I read the Karwa Chauth katha in English?
Yes. What matters in tradition is that the story is told and heard with faith, in a language you understand. Many families abroad read the Hindi aloud from the Roman letters on this page and then the English, so the younger women follow along.
When is the katha read?
In the evening, after the puja is set up and before the moon rises. Women usually sit in a circle with their karvas and thalis, one person reads, and the thalis are passed around. In many families each woman holds a few grains of wheat or rice while she listens and offers them afterwards.
What if I can't see the moon in London (or anywhere cloudy)?
Go by the moonrise time for your city. Many women break the fast once that time has passed, facing the direction where the moon rises, usually east. Some families wait until a relative somewhere else sees it. Follow your family's custom.
Is it OK to drink water if I'm pregnant or unwell?
Yes. Tradition has always allowed the fast to be eased for health, and health comes first. Many women in that situation take water, milk or fruit during the day and still do the evening puja, the katha and the arghya. Talk to your family and your doctor.
Why does my family tell the story differently?
Because there is no single fixed text. In some homes it is Indrani who helps Veeravati, in others Mother Parvati, and the false moon is a lamp in a tree or a fire behind a hill. Ours is one faithful retelling of the most common version; your family's way is just as valid.
Source and review
Source: Nitya's retelling of the traditional story (Hindi, 2026), written for this site; not a transcription of any printed edition
Nitya's retelling of the traditional story. There is no single canonical wording of the Karwa Chauth katha; it is told in many family and booklet versions. Our retelling follows the elements common to the most widely told version: the merchant's daughter Veeravati and her seven brothers; her first Karwa Chauth fast at her parents' home; the youngest brother's false moon (a lamp behind a sieve on a peepal tree; some tell it as a fire behind a hill); the three omens at the meal (a hair, a sneeze, the news); Indrani's explanation (many families tell it with Parvati or Karva Mata); a year of monthly Chauth fasts beside her husband's body; and his return to life on the next Karwa Chauth. Some versions end with the youngest sister-in-law restoring him; we have not used that ending. Part two follows the common story of Karva, the crocodile bound with raw cotton thread, and Yama. The Hindi is our own wording, not copied from any book or website. Meanings are retellings of each paragraph; the Hindi meaning is a one-line gist.
The text and the meanings are both an early draft.
The meanings are our own first draft. A scholar has not reviewed them yet. If you spot a mistake, please tell us.