Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

अर्के श्यामे कीटभयं भस्माभे राष्ट्रजं तथा । छिद्रे ऽर्कमण्डले दृष्टं महाराजविनाशनम् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

arke śyāme kīṭabhayaṃ bhasmābhe rāṣṭrajaṃ tathā | chidre 'rkamaṇḍale dṛṣṭaṃ mahārājavināśanam || 13 ||

Translation

Erscheint die Sonne dunkel, so kündigt dies Furcht vor Insektenplagen an; erscheint sie aschfarben, weist dies auf Unheil hin, das im Reich selbst entsteht. Und wird im Sonnendiskus ein Loch gesehen, so bedeutet dies den Untergang eines großen Königs.

Word by Word

• अर्के: in the Sun
• अर्के: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• श्यामे: dark/blackish
• श्यामे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; ‘अर्के’ इति विशेषणम्

• कीट-भयम्: fear from insects/pests
• कीट-भयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कीट (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘कीटानां भयम्’ (fear of insects)

• भस्म-आभे: in an ash-colored (appearance)
• भस्म-आभे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः—‘भस्मवत् आभा यस्य’ (ash-colored)

• राष्ट्र-जम्: arising in the kingdom
• राष्ट्र-जम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राष्ट्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (√जन् धातु-जन्य प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘राष्ट्रात् जातम्’ (arising in the realm/state)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) = ‘also/likewise’

• छिद्रे: in a hole/aperture
• छिद्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छिद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अर्क-मण्डले: in the sun’s disc
• अर्क-मण्डले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘अर्कस्य मण्डले’ (in the solar disc)

• दृष्टम्: seen/observed
• दृष्टम्: Kriya (क्रिया/भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘(एतत्) दृष्टम्’ = ‘is seen’

• महा-राज-विनाशनम्: destruction of a great king
• महा-राज-विनाशनम्: Karta (कर्ता/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + राज (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘महाराजस्य विनाशनम्’ (destruction of a great king)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada the omen-science within Purāṇic/astral lore)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Arka (Sun)

FAQs

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

It frames celestial irregularities as dharmic warnings: when cosmic order appears disturbed (a darkened or ruptured Sun), rulers and societies should respond with restraint, protection of subjects, and remedial religious acts to restore harmony.

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

Indirectly: it urges turning to dharma and sacred remedies when ominous signs arise—typically expressed through prayer, worship, and protective rites—so that devotion becomes a practical refuge in times of collective fear and instability.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology) and nimitta-śāstra (omen interpretation): observable changes in the Sun’s appearance are mapped to specific worldly outcomes like pest outbreaks, internal state calamities, and danger to kings.