Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 98
Graha–Ketu–Utpāta Lakṣaṇas: Solar/Lunar Omens, Comets, Eclipses, and Calendar Rules
अनिष्टदो धूमकेतुः शक्रचापसमप्रभः । द्वित्रिचतुःशूलरूपः स च राज्यांतकृन्मतः ॥ ९८ ॥
aniṣṭado dhūmaketuḥ śakracāpasamaprabhaḥ | dvitricatuḥśūlarūpaḥ sa ca rājyāṃtakṛnmataḥ || 98 ||
Der Dhūmaketu, ein Unheil bringender Komet, der wie Indras Regenbogen leuchtet und in Gestalt von zwei, drei oder vier speerartigen Zacken erscheint, gilt als Zeichen, das das Ende eines Reiches herbeiführt.
Narada (teaching within a Sanatkumara–Narada dialogue context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
FAQs
It frames celestial phenomena as nimittas (portents) that reflect collective karma and dharma in a realm—warning rulers to restore righteousness and undertake remedial, dharmic action rather than ignore signs.
Indirectly: by highlighting impermanence of political power, it nudges the listener toward refuge in the eternal—Vishnu-bhakti and dharma—rather than reliance on unstable worldly sovereignty.
Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology): classification of a dhūmaketu by appearance (rainbow-like brilliance; multi-pronged ‘śūla’ form) and the predictive result—political calamity or the termination of a kingdom.