Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 149

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

Devanagari script

चरे सन्मध्यदुष्टाभ्यामंगभंगे विपर्ययात् । स्थिरे नेष्टष्टमध्या च होरायास्त्र्यं शकैः फलम् ॥ १४९ ॥

Transliteration

care sanmadhyaduṣṭābhyāmaṃgabhaṃge viparyayāt | sthire neṣṭaṣṭamadhyā ca horāyāstryaṃ śakaiḥ phalam || 149 ||

Translation

In beweglichen Zeichen werden die Ergebnisse—je nach Zustand der Horā—als gut, mittel oder schädlich bezeichnet; bei Verletzung des Körpers jedoch sind die Anzeichen umgekehrt zu deuten. In festen Zeichen gelten die Wirkungen als unerquicklich, besonders wenn sie mit dem achten Ort und der Mitte verbunden sind. So lehrten die Śakas die dreifache Frucht der Horā.

Word by Word

• care: in a movable sign/condition
• care: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case, Locative), एकवचन; ‘in a movable (sign)’

• sat-madhya-duṣṭābhyām: by (the states) good, middling, and bad
• sat-madhya-duṣṭābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक) + madhya (प्रातिपदिक) + duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case, Instrumental), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व (समाहार) — ‘सत्, मध्यम्, दुष्टम्’ इत्येतैः (by good, middling, bad)

• aṅga-bhaṅge: in the division of parts (of the chart/body)
• aṅga-bhaṅge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + bhaṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष — ‘अङ्गस्य भङ्गः’ (division of limbs/parts)

• viparyayāt: from reversal/contrary arrangement
• viparyayāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viparyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th case, Ablative), एकवचन

• sthire: in a fixed sign/condition
• sthire: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘in a fixed (sign)’

• na-iṣṭa-aṣṭama-madhyā: (hora) being undesirable/eighth/middling
• na-iṣṭa-aṣṭama-madhyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: na (अव्यय-नञ्) + iṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + aṣṭama (प्रातिपदिक) + madhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व/समाहार-भावः — ‘नेष्टा, अष्टमा, मध्या’ (unfavourable, eighth, middling) as a set; agrees with horā

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

• horāyāḥ: of the hora (hour/horary division)
• horāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: horā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case, Genitive), एकवचन

• tryam: a triad/threefold (classification)
• tryam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; numeral collective ‘triad/threefold’

• śakaiḥ: by the Śakas (authorities)
• śakaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; instrumental ‘by the Śakas’ (i.e., according to Śaka authorities)

• phalam: result
• phalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Śakas

FAQs

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

It frames Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology) as a disciplined interpretive tool: outcomes are not read mechanically, but by rules (movable vs. fixed signs) and contextual correction (viparyaya in injury), encouraging careful discernment in dharmic decision-making.

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

Indirectly: it supports a devotee’s dharmic life by teaching how to judge time-signs (horā) prudently; such prudence is meant to aid righteous conduct, within which Viṣṇu-bhakti and mokṣa-oriented living can be pursued without superstition.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa—specifically horā-phala (hour/divisional results), interpretation by rāśi-type (movable vs. fixed), the inauspicious role of the eighth place, and the rule of viparyaya (reversal) when reading indications for bodily injury.