Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 108

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

Devanagari script

सुभिक्षकृत्कौमुदाख्यः केतुः कुमुदसन्निभः । आवर्तकेतुसंध्यायां शशिरो नेष्टदायकः ॥ १०८ ॥

Transliteration

subhikṣakṛtkaumudākhyaḥ ketuḥ kumudasannibhaḥ | āvartaketusaṃdhyāyāṃ śaśiro neṣṭadāyakaḥ || 108 ||

Translation

Der Ketu namens Kaumuda, der gute Ernten bewirkt, erscheint einem weißen Wasserlotos gleich. Doch wenn die Dämmerung von einem wirbelnden (āvarta) Ketu gezeichnet ist, wird der Mond (Śaśin) zum Spender des Unerwünschten, zu unheilvollen Ergebnissen.

Word by Word

• subhikṣa-kṛt: bringing abundance
• subhikṣa-kṛt: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: subhikṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; upapada-kr̥danta -kṛt: 'subhikṣaṃ karoti' (causing good harvest/abundance)

• kaumuda-ākhyaḥ: named Kaumuda
• kaumuda-ākhyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaumuda (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'kaumuda iti ākhyaḥ' (named Kaumuda)

• ketuḥ: comet/meteor (ketu)
• ketuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ketu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• kumuda-sannibhaḥ: resembling a kumuda (water-lily)
• kumuda-sannibhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kumuda (प्रातिपदिक) + sannibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'kumudavat sannibhaḥ' (like a water-lily)

• āvarta-ketu-saṃdhyāyām: at (the time/place of) Āvartaketu-twilight
• āvarta-ketu-saṃdhyāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āvarta (प्रातिपदिक) + ketu (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃdhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (multi-member): 'āvartaketoḥ saṃdhyā' / 'āvarta-ketu-saṃdhyā' (at the twilight named Āvartaketu / connected with Āvartaketu)

• śaśī: the Moon
• śaśī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-nipāta (negative particle/निषेध)

• iṣṭa-dāyakaḥ: giver of desired (boons)
• iṣṭa-dāyakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: iṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + dā (दा धातु) + -yaka (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agent-noun: 'iṣṭaṃ dadāti' (giver of desired things)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Ketu
• Chandra (Shashi)

FAQs

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

It frames celestial phenomena as dharmic indicators: some omens support well-being (subhikṣa), while others warn of adverse outcomes, encouraging vigilance and right conduct.

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

Indirectly: by highlighting inauspicious periods, it implies the devotee should intensify sādhana—japa, pūjā, and Viṣṇu-smaraṇa—rather than be careless when signs indicate disorder.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology/omenology): classification of Ketu-comet appearances and their predicted effects, especially when occurring at saṃdhyā (twilight) in relation to the Moon.