Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 154

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

Devanagari script

तेषां शिवघ्नाः शैलाप्ता व्यावर्काजः शरोंगुलैः । अर्कं विधुर्विधुं भूभा छादयत्यथा छन्नकम् ॥ १५४ ॥

Transliteration

teṣāṃ śivaghnāḥ śailāptā vyāvarkājaḥ śaroṃgulaiḥ | arkaṃ vidhurvidhuṃ bhūbhā chādayatyathā channakam || 154 ||

Translation

Unter ihnen waren Feinde, die Śiva erschlagen, aus den Bergen geboren und wolfsartig an Wildheit; mit Pfeilen, nach der Fingerweite bemessen, streckten sie die Sonne nieder; und wie der Glanz der Erde den Mond verhüllt, so wurde auch der Mond verdunkelt, als wäre er bedeckt.

Word by Word

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (Plural); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• शिव-घ्नाः: slayers of Śiva / Śiva-killers
• शिव-घ्नाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक; घ्न = हन्तृ-भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative)

• शैल-आप्ताः: having reached/obtained the mountain
• शैल-आप्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैल + आप्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; आप्त = √आप्/आप्नु (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), ‘obtained/reached’; तत्पुरुष (determinative)

• व्यावर्काजः: Vyāvarkāja (proper name/term)
• व्यावर्काजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यावर्काज (प्रातिपदिक; पाठभेद/दुर्लभ-शब्द)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष-नाम/दुर्लभ-प्रातिपदिक (uncertain etymology)

• शर-अङ्गुलैः: with arrow-fingers / by arrow-length units
• शर-अङ्गुलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर + अङ्गुलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-समासपद (as compound), तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (determinative)

• अर्कम्: the sun
• अर्कम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• विधुः: the moon
• विधुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विधुम्: the moon (as object)
• विधुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• भू-भा: earth-light / terrestrial radiance
• भू-भा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू + भा (प्रातिपदिक; भा = ‘light/splendour’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (determinative)

• छादयति: covers
• छादयति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √छाद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अथा: then / just as
• अथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपपद/समुच्चयार्थ-निपात (particle: ‘then/just as’)

• छन्नकम्: a covering / something covered
• छन्नकम्: Upamana (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्नक (प्रातिपदिक; छन्न = √छद् क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘covered thing/covering’

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara brothers; Moksha-dharma narrative style)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Surya (Arka)
• Chandra (Vidhu)

FAQs

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

It uses the obscuring of the sun and moon as a symbolic warning: when destructive, anti-dharmic forces rise, even the ‘lights’ of discernment and order appear veiled—urging the seeker to take refuge in dharma and mokṣa-oriented conduct.

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

Indirectly, it frames a world where cosmic order can be ‘covered’; Bhakti (especially Viṣṇu-bhakti emphasized across Book 1.2) is presented in this section as a stabilizing refuge when external conditions become darkened and confusing.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse employs precise metrical/measurement language (aṅgula) and astronomical imagery (Sun/Moon obscuration), resonating with Vedāṅga concerns like Jyotiṣa (celestial phenomena) and Kalpa-style precision in measures—even within a Purāṇic narrative.