Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 86

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

Devanagari script

वेलाहीने सस्यहानिर्नृपाणां दारुणं रणम् । अतिवेले पुष्पहानिर्भयं सस्यविनाशनम् ॥ ८६ ॥

Transliteration

velāhīne sasyahānirnṛpāṇāṃ dāruṇaṃ raṇam | ativele puṣpahānirbhayaṃ sasyavināśanam || 86 ||

Translation

When the season arrives late, crops are lost, and for kings there arises a dreadful outbreak of war. When the season comes excessively early, blossoms are destroyed, and fear arises that the harvest will be ruined.

Word by Word

• वेला-हीने: when the proper time is lacking
• वेला-हीने: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेला (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; वेला-हीन = 'समय-रहिते' (locative absolute sense)

• सस्य-हानिः: loss of crops
• सस्य-हानिः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सस्य (प्रातिपदिक) + हानि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• नृपाणाम्: of kings
• नृपाणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन

• दारुणम्: terrible
• दारुणम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; 'रणम्' इति विशेषणम्

• रणम्: battle/war
• रणम्: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अति-वेले: when it is excessively timed/too late or too early
• अति-वेले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + वेला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अति- = 'अत्यधिक/अतिक्रम्य' (indeclinable prefix)

• पुष्प-हानिः: loss of blossoms
• पुष्प-हानिः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + हानि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सस्य-विनाशनम्: destruction of crops
• सस्य-विनाशनम्: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सस्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• nṛpa (kings)

FAQs

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

It teaches that disruption of ṛta (cosmic order) is mirrored in nature and society—untimely seasons manifest as suffering, signaling the need to restore dharma through right conduct and properly timed rites.

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

Indirectly, it supports bhakti-based dharma by emphasizing alignment with divine order: devotees uphold regular worship, vrata, and discipline, which are traditionally performed with attention to proper time (kāla/velā) as an offering of harmony to the Lord.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa (astral/time science): observing seasonal timing and omens to anticipate agricultural loss and social instability, reinforcing the importance of kāla-nirṇaya (determination of proper times) in ritual and governance.