Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 71

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

Devanagari script

मिथः सप्तमराशिस्थौ पश्चात्प्राग्वीथिसंस्थितौ । गुरुशुक्रावनावृष्टिदुर्भिक्षसमरप्रदौ ॥ ७१ ॥

Transliteration

mithaḥ saptamarāśisthau paścātprāgvīthisaṃsthitau | guruśukrāvanāvṛṣṭidurbhikṣasamarapradau || 71 ||

Translation

When Jupiter (Guru) and Venus (Śukra) stand mutually in the seventh signs and are set upon the western and eastern paths, they become causes of drought, famine, and war.

Word by Word

• मिथः: mutually, with each other
• मिथः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mithas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), परस्परार्थक-अव्यय (reciprocal adverb)

• सप्तम-राशि-स्थौ: (the two) situated in the seventh sign
• सप्तम-राशि-स्थौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक) + राशि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √स्था धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifying two planets): ‘स्थितौ’ इत्यर्थे

• पश्चात्: behind; in the west
• पश्चात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paścāt (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), दिक्कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of direction/time)

• प्राक्: in front; in the east
• प्राक्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prāk (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), दिक्वाचक-अव्यय (directional adverb)

• वीथि-संस्थितौ: stationed in the path/track (vīthī)
• वीथि-संस्थितौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीथि (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, सम्+√स्था)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifying two planets)

• गुरु-शुक्रौ: Jupiter and Venus
• गुरु-शुक्रौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास (copulative): two planets Jupiter and Venus

• अना-वृष्टि-दुर्भिक्ष-समर-प्रदौ: causing drought, famine, and war
• अना-वृष्टि-दुर्भिक्ष-समर-प्रदौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अना-वृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + दुर्भिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + समर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √दा ‘to give’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषण (गुरुशुक्रयोः): बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘एतानि प्रददाति’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Jupiter (Guru)
• Venus (Shukra)

FAQs

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

It presents Jyotiṣa as a Vedāṅga tool for reading time (kāla) and recognizing collective karmic climates—warnings meant to prompt dharmic governance, charity, and restraint when adverse omens appear.

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

Though technical, it supports Bhakti indirectly: when calamity-signs arise, householders and rulers are urged to take refuge in dharma—often expressed through Viṣṇu-oriented worship, vows, and giving—rather than panic or adharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedic astronomy/astrology): interpreting a specific graha-yoga—Guru and Śukra in mutual seventh (opposition) and in east–west paths—as an indicator of anāvṛṣṭi (drought), durbhikṣa (famine), and samara (war).