Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

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

Devanagari script

ग्रस्तोदितावस्तमितौ नृपधान्यविनाशदौ । सर्वग्रस्ताविनेंदू तु क्षुद्व्याध्यग्निभयप्रदौ ॥ ८८ ॥

Transliteration

grastoditāvastamitau nṛpadhānyavināśadau | sarvagrastāvineṃdū tu kṣudvyādhyagnibhayapradau || 88 ||

Translation

Wenn Sonne oder Mond auf- oder untergehen, während sie verfinstert sind, bringt dies Verderben über Könige und Korn. Wird jedoch der Mond vollständig verfinstert, entstehen Ängste vor Hungersnot, Krankheit und Feuer.

Word by Word

• ग्रस्त-उदितौ: (the two) eclipsed at rising
• ग्रस्त-उदितौ: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ग्रस् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + उदित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; 'ग्रस्तः' (past passive participle of √ग्रस्) + 'उदितौ' (risen) — 'eclipsed while rising'

• अस्तमितौ: (the two) set
• अस्तमितौ: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्तमित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; 'setting/vanished'

• नृप-धान्य-विनाश-दौ: causing destruction of kings and grain
• नृप-धान्य-विनाश-दौ: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + धान्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाश (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; -द = 'दातारौ/कारकौ' (causing)

• सर्व-ग्रस्तौ: (the two) completely eclipsed
• सर्व-ग्रस्तौ: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रस्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; सर्वतः ग्रस्तौ = 'completely eclipsed'

• अविन-इन्दू: Rahu (eclipse-causer) and the moon
• अविन-इन्दू: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविन् (प्रातिपदिक; 'राहु/केतु' sense) + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; अविन् + इन्दु = 'राहु (or eclipse-causer) and moon' (pair)

• तु: and/but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• क्षुत्-व्याधि-अग्नि-भय-प्रदौ: causing fear of famine, disease, and fire
• क्षुत्-व्याधि-अग्नि-भय-प्रदौ: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुत् (प्रातिपदिक) + व्याधि (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; प्रद = 'दातारौ/जनकौ' (giving/causing)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on dharma/omens and related observances)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Chandra (Moon)
• Surya (Sun)
• Nṛpa (King)

FAQs

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

It frames eclipses (grahaṇa) as collective karmic indicators (nimitta) affecting society—rulers, food security, and public safety—prompting heightened dharmic vigilance and remedial observances.

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

While the verse is primarily Jyotiṣa-based, its implication supports bhakti-oriented remedial conduct during ominous times—turning the mind to the Divine through japa, dāna, and vrata rather than fear.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology): it specifies grahaṇa-phala—distinct outcomes for eclipses at rise/set versus a total lunar eclipse—used for forecasting social and agricultural disturbances.