Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

रविशुक्रारराह्वर्केन्दुविदीज्या दिगीश्वराः । क्षीणेंद्वर्काररविजाः पापा पापयुतो बुधः ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

raviśukrārarāhvarkenduvidījyā digīśvarāḥ | kṣīṇeṃdvarkāraravijāḥ pāpā pāpayuto budhaḥ || 17 ||

Translation

Sonne, Venus, Mars, Rāhu, Mond, Merkur, Jupiter und die Herren der Himmelsrichtungen sind als regierende Gottheiten zu betrachten. Wenn der Mond abnimmt und Sonne, Mars und Saturn beteiligt sind, gilt dies als unheilvoll; und Merkur wird, wenn er mit einem Übeltäter verbunden ist, ebenfalls unheilvoll.

Word by Word

• रवि-शुक्र-अर-राहु-अर्क-इन्दु-विदि-ईज्याः: Ravi, Shukra, Ara (Mars), Rahu, Arka (Sun), Indu (Moon), Vidi (Mercury), Ijya (Jupiter)
• रवि-शुक्र-अर-राहु-अर्क-इन्दु-विदि-ईज्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि + शुक्र + अर(=मङ्गल) + राहु + अर्क + इन्दु + विदि(=बुध) + ईज्य(=बृहस्पति) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (सूची-समास)

• दिक्-ईश्वराः: lords of the directions
• दिक्-ईश्वराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक् + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दिशाम् ईश्वराः)

• क्षीण-इन्दु-अर्क-अर-रवि-जाः: those for whom the Moon, Sun, Mars and Ravi are weak/waning
• क्षीण-इन्दु-अर्क-अर-रवि-जाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षीण + इन्दु + अर्क + अर(=मङ्गल) + रवि + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि (येषां क्षीणः इन्दुः, अर्कः, अरः, रविः—ते)

• पापाः: sinful/inauspicious
• पापाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• पाप-युतः: associated with sin
• पाप-युतः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप + युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तृतीया/सह-तत्पुरुष (पापेन युतः = endowed with sin)

• बुधः: Mercury (Budha)
• बुधः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Surya (Ravi/Arka)
• Shukra
• Mangala (Ara)
• Rahu
• Chandra (Indu)
• Budha
• Brihaspati (Ijyā)
• Dikpalas (Digishvaras)

FAQs

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

It frames Jyotiṣa as a dharmic diagnostic tool: planetary conditions (like a waning Moon or malefic associations) signal periods of greater karmic friction, prompting increased restraint, prayer, and corrective dharma rather than fatalism.

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

By identifying inauspicious configurations, the verse implicitly encourages turning to steady sādhana—especially remembrance and worship of the Lord—so that the mind remains anchored in bhakti even when external or temporal conditions are unfavorable.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (a Vedāṅga) is highlighted: the verse notes the waning Moon (kṣīṇendu) and the principle that Mercury (Budha) becomes functionally malefic when conjoined with a malefic (pāpa-yuta), a key rule used in electional and predictive astrology.