Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

नेष्टः कुजो बुधो जीवो भृगुस्त्वतिशुभङ्करः । अधमो रविजो वाच्यो ज्ञात्वा चैषां बलाबलम् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

neṣṭaḥ kujo budho jīvo bhṛgustvatiśubhaṅkaraḥ | adhamo ravijo vācyo jñātvā caiṣāṃ balābalam || 3 ||

Translation

Mars (Kuja) gilt als ungünstig; Merkur (Budha) und Jupiter (Jīva) als günstig; und Venus (Bhṛgu) als überaus glückverheißend. Die Sonne jedoch ist als die niedrigste (am wenigsten günstige) zu bezeichnen, nachdem man die jeweilige Stärke und Schwäche dieser Planeten erkannt hat.

Word by Word

• नेष्टः: unfavorable / not desired
• नेष्टः: Samanaadhikarana (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नेष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (predicate adjective)

• कुजः: Mars
• कुजः: Samanaadhikarana (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मङ्गलग्रहवाचक

• बुधः: Mercury
• बुधः: Samanaadhikarana (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बुधग्रहवाचक

• जीवः: Jupiter
• जीवः: Samanaadhikarana (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बृहस्पतिग्रहवाचक

• भृगुः: Venus (Bhṛgu)
• भृगुः: Samanaadhikarana (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शुक्रग्रहवाचक

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय (particle: 'but/indeed')

• अति-शुभं-करः: very auspicious-causing
• अति-शुभं-करः: Samanaadhikarana (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + शुभ + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः: अतिशुभङ्कर = 'very-auspicious-causing'

• अधमः: lowest / worst
• अधमः: Samanaadhikarana (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• रवि-जः: Ravi’s son (Ravija)
• रवि-जः: Samanaadhikarana (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः: रविज = 'born of Ravi' (i.e., Saturn in some traditions)

• वाच्यः: is to be called
• वाच्यः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + य (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligatory), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'to be called/said'

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): 'having known'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एषाम्: of these
• एषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; 'of these'

• बल-अबलम्: strength and weakness
• बल-अबलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल + अबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (pair: strength and weakness)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Mars (Kuja)
• Mercury (Budha)
• Jupiter (Jīva/Bṛhaspati)
• Venus (Bhṛgu/Śukra)
• Sun (Ravi)

FAQs

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

It teaches discernment (viveka) in applying Jyotiṣa: results depend on a planet’s relative strength (bala) and weakness (abala), so dharmic decisions should be made after proper evaluation rather than assumption.

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

Indirectly, it supports Bhakti-oriented life by advising practical discernment in worldly timing and influences; by aligning actions wisely, a devotee reduces obstacles and maintains steadiness in dharma and remembrance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa: assessing graha (planetary) auspiciousness through bala–abala (strength/weakness) before declaring results, a core method in predictive and ritual-timing astrology.