Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 85

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

Devanagari script

मंदार्चने वा तमसि शयनं नीचगेभुवि । शीर्षे पृष्टोदये जन्म तद्वदेव विनिर्दिशेत् ॥ ८५ ॥

Transliteration

maṃdārcane vā tamasi śayanaṃ nīcagebhuvi | śīrṣe pṛṣṭodaye janma tadvadeva vinirdiśet || 85 ||

Translation

If one sleeps in darkness, or lies down on low ground, or is born when the ascendant is in the head region and the back is rising, one should understand the indicated result to be the same as stated earlier.

Word by Word

• मन्द-अर्चने: in Saturn-worship/propitiation
• मन्द-अर्चने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative singular (in Saturn’s worship/rite)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• तमसि: in darkness
• तमसि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative singular

• शयनम्: sleeping/lying down
• शयनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

• नीच-गे-भुवि: on low ground/on the ground below
• नीच-गे-भुवि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीच (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + भुवि/भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative singular; ‘भुवि’ = on the ground; ‘नीचगे’ = low-going/low place

• शीर्षे: at the head (side)
• शीर्षे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative singular

• पृष्ठ-उदये: at the rising behind/backward (reverse rising)
• पृष्ठ-उदये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + उदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative singular

• जन्म: birth
• जन्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

• तत्-वत्-एव: just so/in the same way
• तत्-वत्-एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (प्रातिपदिक) + एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग; ‘तद्वत्’ (indeclinable adverb) + एव (emphasis)

• विनिर्दिशेत्: one should declare/indicate
• विनिर्दिशेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + निर् + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; optative

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It treats certain conditions—darkness, improper sleeping places, and specific birth-time indications—as inauspicious nimittas, teaching vigilance in conduct and timing as part of Dharma-oriented living.

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

Indirectly: by discouraging tamasic habits and inauspicious settings, it supports a sattvic lifestyle that traditionally aids steadiness of mind, which is favorable for Vishnu-bhakti and disciplined practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa/Nimitta-style reasoning: interpreting birth-time and situational signs as carrying predictable outcomes, and classifying certain timings/conditions as equivalent in result to previously described inauspicious indicators.