Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 183

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

Devanagari script

मृदुध्रुवक्षिप्रचरविशाखापितृभेषु च । हलप्रवाहं प्रथमं विदध्यान्मूलभे वृषैः ॥ १८३ ॥

Transliteration

mṛdudhruvakṣipracaraviśākhāpitṛbheṣu ca | halapravāhaṃ prathamaṃ vidadhyānmūlabhe vṛṣaiḥ || 183 ||

Translation

মৃদু, ধ্রুব, ক্ষিপ্র ও চর নক্ষত্রে, এবং বিশাখা ও পিতৃ-নক্ষত্রে প্রথমে ‘হল-প্রবাহ’ (লাঙল চালানো/ফাঁড় কাটা) করা উচিত; মূল নক্ষত্রে তা বলদসহ করা বিধেয়।

Word by Word

• मृदु: (the group) Mṛdu
• मृदु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नक्षत्र-गण-नाम (मृदु-गण)

• ध्रुव: (the group) Dhruva
• ध्रुव: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नक्षत्र-गण-नाम (ध्रुव-गण)

• क्षिप्र: (the group) Kṣipra
• क्षिप्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षिप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नक्षत्र-गण-नाम (क्षिप्र-गण)

• चर: (the group) Cara
• चर: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नक्षत्र-गण-नाम (चर-गण)

• विशाखा: (the nakshatra) Viśākhā
• विशाखा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाखा (प्रातिपदिक; नक्षत्रनाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पितृभेषु: in the Pitṛbha group (of nakshatras)
• पितृभेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृभ (प्रातिपदिक; नक्षत्र-गण-नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), बहुवचन; ‘पितृभ’ इति नक्षत्र-गण-निर्देशः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• हलप्रवाहम्: the ploughing/flow of the plough (ploughing operation)
• हलप्रवाहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: हलस्य प्रवाहः

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbially): ‘first’

• विदध्यात्: should perform/arrange
• विदध्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + धा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; ‘should arrange/perform’

• मूलभे: in the Mūla nakshatra
• मूलभे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक; नक्षत्रनाम) + भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: मूलं भम् (मूल-नक्षत्रे)

• वृषैः: with bulls/oxen
• वृषैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Viśākhā
• Pitṛs
• Mūla (nakṣatra)

FAQs

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

It links dharmic action to right timing (kāla) by prescribing nakṣatra-based suitability for beginning a rite, showing that disciplined, well-timed karma supports harmony and welfare.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports a bhakti-friendly life by ordering daily duties through śāstra—so one’s offerings and works are done in an auspicious, sattvic manner, reducing obstacles to devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology): the classification of nakṣatras (mṛdu, dhruva, kṣipra, cara) and choosing appropriate asterisms and conditions (e.g., using bulls in Mūla) for initiating a ritual act.