Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

अग्निप्रदस्तेयचरवनसर्पविनाशकृत् । विशाखा मित्रयोर्याम्यपार्श्वगः पापगः शशी ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

agnipradasteyacaravanasarpavināśakṛt | viśākhā mitrayoryāmyapārśvagaḥ pāpagaḥ śaśī || 21 ||

Translation

বিশাখা নক্ষত্রে চন্দ্র অবস্থান করলে অগ্নিদাহ, চৌর্য, চলমান প্রাণী, বন ও সর্পের বিনাশ ঘটায়—এমন বলা হয়। তখন চন্দ্র দুই ‘মিত্র’-এর দক্ষিণ পার্শ্বে গিয়ে পাপদায়ক ও অশুভ গণ্য হয়।

Word by Word

• अग्नि-प्रद-स्तेय-चर-वन-सर्प-विनाश-कृत्: destroyer of fire-givers, thieves, spies/raiders, forest-serpents, etc.
• अग्नि-प्रद-स्तेय-चर-वन-सर्प-विनाश-कृत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक) + स्तेय (प्रातिपदिक) + चर (प्रातिपदिक) + वन (प्रातिपदिक) + सर्प (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाश (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृ धातु, कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (कृत्), विशेषणरूपेण; समासः बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (विनाशं करोतीति विनाशकृत्; अग्निप्रद-स्तेय-चर-वन-सर्प इत्यादीनां विनाशकृत्)

• विशाखा: (in) Viśākhā (nakṣatra)
• विशाखा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशाखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नक्षत्रनाम

• मित्रयोः: of the two Mitras
• मित्रयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; ‘of the two Mitras’ (dual)

• याम्य-पार्श्व-गः: going/being on the southern side
• याम्य-पार्श्व-गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याम्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (गम् धातु, कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘ग’ (going/being) कृतान्त; तत्पुरुषः—याम्ये पार्श्वे गः

• पाप-गः: bringing/going to sin; inauspicious-going
• पाप-गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (गम् धातु, कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—पापं गच्छतीति/पापे गः

• शशी: the Moon
• शशी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशिन्/शशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; चन्द्रनाम

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Shashi (Chandra/Moon)
• Vishakha (Nakshatra)
• Mitra (dual deities)

FAQs

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

It frames Jyotiṣa as a dharmic aid: the Moon’s placement in Viśākhā is marked as inauspicious, warning a practitioner to avoid or pacify adverse timings so that spiritual and ritual efforts are not obstructed.

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

Indirectly: by advising caution about inauspicious lunar conditions, it supports steady sādhana—devotional practices are best protected by choosing favorable times or performing prāyaścitta/śānti when a “pāpa-ga” transit is indicated.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology): it assigns a specific nakṣatra (Viśākhā) and describes the Moon’s inauspicious status and associated negative outcomes, guiding ritual timing and remedial observances.