Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Graha–Ketu–Utpāta Lakṣaṇas: Solar/Lunar Omens, Comets, Eclipses, and Calendar Rules

Devanagari script

दण्डाकारे कबंधेवा ध्वांक्षाकारेऽथ कीलके । दृष्टेऽकमण्डले व्याधिर्भ्रांतिश्चोरार्थनाशनम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

daṇḍākāre kabaṃdhevā dhvāṃkṣākāre'tha kīlake | dṛṣṭe'kamaṇḍale vyādhirbhrāṃtiścorārthanāśanam || 4 ||

Translation

إذا ظهر الوتدُ الطقسي (kīlaka) على هيئة عصاً، أو كجذعٍ بلا رأس، أو على صورة غراب، فحين يُرى الكماṇḍalu (إناء الماء) على تلك الهيئة يكون ذلك نذيراً بالمرض، والاضطراب والحيرة، وضياع المال بسَرقة اللصوص.

Word by Word

• दण्ड-आकारे: in a staff-like form
• दण्ड-आकारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दण्ड + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; 'in/at the form of a staff'

• कबन्ध-इव: like a headless trunk
• कबन्ध-इव: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कबन्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक अव्यय-प्रयोगः; इव (particle: 'like')

• ध्वांक्ष-आकारे: in a crow-like form
• ध्वांक्ष-आकारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वांक्ष + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; 'in a crow-like form'

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (particle: 'then/and')

• कीलके: in a peg-like form
• कीलके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; 'in/at a peg-like (form)'

• दृष्टे: when seen
• दृष्टे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचन, भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (locative absolute sense): 'when seen/if seen'

• अ-कमण्डले: in a non-kamaṇḍalu (water-pot) form
• अ-कमण्डले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ (निषेध) + कमण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः: 'not (like) a water-pot / without a kamaṇḍalu' (as a form-description)

• व्याधिः: disease
• व्याधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भ्रान्तिः: confusion/delusion
• भ्रान्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चोर-अर्थ-नाशनम्: loss of wealth due to thieves
• चोर-अर्थ-नाशनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चोर + अर्थ + नाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः: चोरार्थनाशन = 'destruction of wealth by thieves'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It teaches nimitta-jñāna (knowledge of omens): defects or uncanny shapes in ritual implements signal doṣa (inauspiciousness), warning the practitioner to correct the rite and protect health, clarity, and resources.

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

Indirectly: by advising vigilance and purity in sacred practice, it supports steady sādhana; avoiding inauspicious doṣas helps a devotee maintain uninterrupted worship and remembrance of the Divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Nimitta-śāstra aligned with Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology): reading portents from observed forms to anticipate outcomes like illness, भ्रम (confusion), and theft-related loss, prompting remedial ritual correction.