Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 186

Jyotiṣa-śāstra Saṅgraha: Threefold Division, Gaṇita Methods, Muhūrta, and Planetary Reckoning

Devanagari script

आद्यंतकालयोर्मध्ये कालो ज्ञेयोऽतिदारुणः । प्रज्वलज्ज्वलनाकारः सर्वकर्मसु गर्हितः ॥ १८६ ॥

Transliteration

ādyaṃtakālayormadhye kālo jñeyo'tidāruṇaḥ | prajvalajjvalanākāraḥ sarvakarmasu garhitaḥ || 186 ||

Translation

بين وقتِ البدء ووقتِ الانتهاء ينبغي أن يُعرَف «كالا» (الزمن) بأنه شديدُ الهول—متأجّجٌ كالنارِ المستعرة، ومذمومٌ في كلِّ عمل، لأنه يلتهم الأفعال ويُفضي بها إلى الخراب.

Word by Word

• आद्य-अन्त-कालयोः: of the initial and final times
• आद्य-अन्त-कालयोः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास (आद्यकाल + अन्तकाल) — Genitive dual

• मध्ये: in between
• मध्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूत (locative used adverbially) — ‘in the middle/between’

• कालः: time
• कालः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• ज्ञेयः: should be known
• ज्ञेयः: विधेय/प्रेडिकेट (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Gerundive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘to be known’

• अति-दारुणः: extremely dreadful
• अति-दारुणः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (अत्यन्तं दारुणः) — very dreadful

• प्रज्वलत्-ज्वलन-आकारः: having the appearance of blazing fire
• प्रज्वलत्-ज्वलन-आकारः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + ज्वल् (धातु; कृदन्त ‘प्रज्वलत्’) + ज्वलन (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास — ‘having the form of blazing fire’

• सर्व-कर्मसु: in all actions
• सर्व-कर्मसु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास — ‘in all actions’

• गर्हितः: censured
• गर्हितः: विधेय/प्रेडिकेट (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — censured

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Kāla (Time)

FAQs

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

It frames Kāla (Time) as the relentless force that burns through worldly achievements, cultivating vairāgya (detachment) and urging the seeker toward mokṣa rather than dependence on perishable results.

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

By portraying Time as a consuming fire that defeats all worldly projects, the verse indirectly points the mind to the timeless refuge—devotion to the imperishable Lord—since bhakti anchors the heart in what Kāla cannot destroy.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

No specific Vedāṅga technique is taught in this verse; instead, it provides a practical dharmic takeaway used across śāstra—awareness of impermanence to guide right priorities in karma, vrata, and spiritual discipline.