Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 196

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

Devanagari script

केदारोत्थः कृषिकरः शूले शूरोक्षतो धनः । युगं पाषंडयुर्गोले विधनो मलिनस्तथा ॥ १९६ ॥

Transliteration

kedārotthaḥ kṛṣikaraḥ śūle śūrokṣato dhanaḥ | yugaṃ pāṣaṃḍayurgole vidhano malinastathā || 196 ||

Translation

Born in Kedāra, he lives by farming; in the śūla (trident) pattern he is a valiant warrior, yet wounded, and in wealth he becomes affluent. But in an age marked by heresy and disorder, he becomes destitute and likewise stained in conduct.

Word by Word

• केदार-उत्थः: arisen from a field (Kedāra)
• केदार-उत्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: केदार (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्थ (√स्था/√उत्था धातु, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (केदारात् उत्थः = arisen from a field)

• कृषि-करः: farmer
• कृषि-करः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृषि (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कृषेः करः = one who does farming)

• शूले: in/at the trident
• शूले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• शूरः: brave
• शूरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• उक्षतः: sprinkled/anointed
• उक्षतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √उक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘sprinkled/anointed’

• धनः: wealth / Dhana (name)
• धनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• युगम्: yoke / Yuga (name)
• युगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• पाषण्ड-युः: Pāṣaṇḍayu (a name; connected with heresy)
• पाषण्ड-युः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाषण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पाषण्डसम्बद्धः युः)

• र्गोले: in/at Gol(a)
• र्गोले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; पाठे ‘र्गोले’ = ‘गोलॆ’ (पूर्वपद-सम्बन्धात् र्-आगम)

• विधनः: poor/without wealth
• विधनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मलिनः: impure/dirty
• मलिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मलिन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• तथा: thus/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-उपपद (adverb/conjunction: ‘thus/also’)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Kedara

FAQs

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

It highlights how time (yuga) and prevailing adharma influence a person’s outward fortunes and inner purity, urging vigilance in conduct when society is overtaken by pāṣaṇḍa and confusion.

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

By implying that worldly status can swing from wealth to destitution in a corrupt age, it indirectly points to seeking steadiness through dharma and devotion rather than relying on unstable external conditions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse is yuga-oriented and aligns most closely with Jyotiṣa-style thinking (time/age effects), offering a practical takeaway: assess the ‘spirit of the age’ and strengthen dharmic disciplines accordingly.