Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

मयूरपत्रसङ्काशो द्वादशाब्दं न वर्षति । चन्द्रमासदृशो भानुः कुर्याद्भूपांतरं क्षितौ ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

mayūrapatrasaṅkāśo dvādaśābdaṃ na varṣati | candramāsadṛśo bhānuḥ kuryādbhūpāṃtaraṃ kṣitau || 12 ||

Translation

If the clouds appear like peacock-feathers, there will be no rainfall for twelve years. If the Sun comes to resemble the Moon, it foretells a change of kingship upon the earth.

Word by Word

• मयूर-पत्र-सङ्काशः: resembling peacock feathers
• मयूर-पत्र-सङ्काशः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मयूर (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्काश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः—‘मयूरपत्रस्य सङ्काशः’ (resembling peacock-feathers)

• द्वादश-अब्दम्: twelve years (as a period)
• द्वादश-अब्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः—‘द्वादश अब्दाः’ (twelve years) as a duration-object

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• वर्षति: rains
• वर्षति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चन्द्र-मास-दृशः: appearing like the moon
• चन्द्र-मास-दृशः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मास (प्रातिपदिक) + दृश्/दृश (प्रातिपदिक ‘दृश’ = like/seeing)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः—‘चन्द्रमासवत् दृशः’ (moon-month-like/like the moon)

• भानुः: the Sun
• भानुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कुर्यात्: would cause/should cause
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भूप-अन्तरम्: change of kings/another king
• भूप-अन्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूप (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘भूपानाम् अन्तरम्’ (change/interval among kings)

• क्षितौ: on earth
• क्षितौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in an omens/portents section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Bhanu (Sun)
• Chandra (Moon)

FAQs

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

It frames cosmic irregularities as moral and karmic indicators affecting society—drought and political upheaval are shown as results that prompt rulers and people to return to dharma and restraint.

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

Indirectly: by warning of instability in the world, it encourages taking refuge in steady practices—Vishnu-smaraṇa, vrata, and dharmic living—rather than relying on worldly security.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa and nimitta-śāstra style observation: interpreting atmospheric/cloud forms and abnormal solar appearance as predictive signs for rainfall cycles and political transitions.