Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 117

Jyotiṣa-saṅgraha: Varga-vibhāga, Bala-nirṇaya, Garbha-phala, Āyuḥ-gaṇanā

Devanagari script

शताब्दं गीष्पतौ कर्के कटकस्थसितेज्ययोः । लयेशेंगे शुभैर्हीनेऽष्टमे रवाब्धिमितं वयः ॥ ११७ ॥

Transliteration

śatābdaṃ gīṣpatau karke kaṭakasthasitejyayoḥ | layeśeṃge śubhairhīne'ṣṭame ravābdhimitaṃ vayaḥ || 117 ||

Translation

When Jupiter is in Cancer, and when the Moon and Jupiter are situated in Cancer, one attains a lifespan of a hundred years. But if the lord of the ascendant is weak and deprived of benefic influences, then in the eighth house the span of life is measured as only twelve years.

Word by Word

• śata-abdam: a hundred years
• śata-abdam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śata + abda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन; द्विगुसमास (संख्यापूर्वकः) — neuter, accusative/nominative singular

• gīḥ-patau: in the lord of speech (Jupiter)
• gīḥ-patau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gīḥ + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गीः = वाणी/वाक्) — masculine, locative singular

• karke: in Cancer (sign)
• karke: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन — masculine, locative singular

• kaṭaka-stha-sita-ijyayoḥ: of Venus and Jupiter (Venus-in-Cancer and Jupiter)
• kaṭaka-stha-sita-ijyayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaṭaka + stha + sita + ijyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी द्विवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (kaṭaka-stha = कटकस्थ; sita-ijyā = सितेज्या) — feminine, genitive dual

• laya-īśe: in the lord of dissolution (laya-īśa)
• laya-īśe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laya + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लयस्य ईशः) — masculine, locative singular

• aṃge: in the limb/part (aṅga)
• aṃge: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन — neuter, locative singular

• śubhaiḥ: by/with benefics
• śubhaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन — masculine, instrumental plural

• hīne: devoid (of)
• hīne: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hīna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी एकवचन; विशेषण — locative singular adjective

• aṣṭame: in the eighth (place)
• aṣṭame: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषण — locative singular

• ravi-abdhi-mitam: measured as ‘ravi+abdhi’ (a numeric value)
• ravi-abdhi-mitam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ravi + abdhi + mita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (रविः+अब्दिः इति संख्याप्रतीक, तेन मितम्) — neuter nom/acc singular

• vayaḥ: age/lifespan
• vayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vayas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन — neuter, nominative singular

Speaker

Narada (teaching Vedanga-Jyotisha style longevity indications within Moksha Dharma discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Bṛhaspati (Jupiter)
• Candra (Moon)
• Karkaṭa (Cancer)
• Lagneśa (Ascendant lord)

FAQs

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

Even while discussing Dharma and Moksha, the text acknowledges Vedanga-Jyotisha as a practical tool: longevity is shown to depend on ‘śubha’ (benefic) support and inner strength (symbolized by a strong lagna lord), reminding the seeker to use life wisely for dharma and liberation.

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

The verse does not teach bhakti directly; it frames human life as uncertain and condition-dependent. In the broader Moksha Dharma spirit, such uncertainty encourages steadiness in sādhana—especially Vishnu-bhakti—without postponing spiritual practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedanga Jyotisha: it references planetary placement (Jupiter and Moon in Cancer), benefic influence (śubha-dṛṣṭi/saṃyoga), the lagna lord’s strength, and the eighth house as a marker for lifespan assessment.