Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Jyotiṣa-saṅgraha: Varga-vibhāga, Bala-nirṇaya, Garbha-phala, Āyuḥ-gaṇanā

Devanagari script

नृपौ रवीन्दू नेतासृक् कुमारो ज्ञः कवीज्यकौ । सचिवो सूर्यजः प्रेष्यो मतो ज्योतिर्विदां वरैः ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

nṛpau ravīndū netāsṛk kumāro jñaḥ kavījyakau | sacivo sūryajaḥ preṣyo mato jyotirvidāṃ varaiḥ || 15 ||

Translation

تُعَدّ الشمسُ والقمرُ ملكين اثنين؛ ويُعَدّ المريخُ قائداً؛ وعُطاردُ أميراً حكيماً؛ والمشتري والزهرة شاعرين اثنين (معلّمين عالمين)؛ وزُحَلُ وزيراً؛ وراهُو خادماً—هكذا يقرّر أفاضلُ العارفين بعلم النجوم.

Word by Word

• नृपौ: two kings
• नृपौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• रवि-इन्दू: Sun and Moon
• रवि-इन्दू: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: ‘रविश्च इन्दुश्च’

• नेता: leader
• नेता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेतृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• असृक्: blood
• असृक्: Karma (कर्म)/Predicate
• Type: Noun
• Root: असृज्/असृक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘blood’

• कुमारः: prince/youth
• कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ज्ञः: knowing, wise
• ज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कवि-ईज्यकौ: poet and sacrificer/priest
• कवि-ईज्यकौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवि (प्रातिपदिक) + ईज्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: ‘कविश्च ईज्यकश्च’

• सचिवः: minister
• सचिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सचिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सूर्य-जः: sun-born (Sūryaja)
• सूर्य-जः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘सूर्यस्य जः’

• प्रेष्यः: servant/messenger
• प्रेष्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मतः: is considered
• मतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle/कर्मणि भूतकृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘considered/held as’

• ज्योतिः-विदाम्: of the astrologers
• ज्योतिः-विदाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘ज्योतिषां विदः’ = ‘knowers of astrology’

• वरैः: by the श्रेष्ठ/learned ones
• वरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada, teaching technical dharma/knowledge within Moksha-dharma discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Chandra
• Mangala
• Budha
• Guru (Brihaspati)
• Shukra
• Shani
• Rahu

FAQs

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

It frames Jyotiḥ-śāstra as an ordered, dharmic science: the grahas function like a royal court, implying cosmic governance under a lawful hierarchy that supports right timing, right action, and ultimately mokṣa-oriented living.

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

Indirectly: by teaching that time and karmic conditions are structured, it encourages devotees to align vows, worship, and sādhana with auspicious order—using knowledge as a support for steady Vishnu-bhakti rather than anxiety about fate.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa: a practical classification of the grahas by function (king, minister, commander, etc.), used for interpreting planetary strength and roles when selecting muhurta and assessing results in applied astrology.