Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 87

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

Devanagari script

एकस्मिन्नेव मासे तु चंद्रा र्कग्रहणं यदा । विरोधो धरणीशानामर्थवृष्टिविनाशनम् ॥ ८७ ॥

Transliteration

ekasminneva māse tu caṃdrā rkagrahaṇaṃ yadā | virodho dharaṇīśānāmarthavṛṣṭivināśanam || 87 ||

Translation

But when, within the very same month, eclipses of both the Moon and the Sun occur, it foretells conflict among the rulers of the earth and the destruction of prosperity and rainfall.

Word by Word

• एकस्मिन्: in one
• एकस्मिन्: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; 'मासे' इति विशेषणम्

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic)

• मासे: in a month
• मासे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• तु: but/and
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वयार्थक (but/and)

• चन्द्र-अर्क-ग्रहणम्: eclipse of the moon and the sun
• चन्द्र-अर्क-ग्रहणम्: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रहण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; चन्द्रस्य च अर्कस्य च ग्रहणम् (eclipse of moon and sun)

• यदा: when
• यदा: कालाधिकरण (Kāla-adhikaraṇa/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्धाव्यय (relative adverb), कालवाचक (when)

• विरोधः: conflict
• विरोधः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• धरणीशानाम्: of kings (lords of the earth)
• धरणीशानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणी (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; धरणी-ईश = 'पृथिव्याः ईशः' (king)

• अर्थ-वृष्टि-विनाशनम्: destruction of prosperity/wealth-rain
• अर्थ-वृष्टि-विनाशनम्: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + वृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; अर्थ-वृष्टिः = 'समृद्धि/धनवृष्टि' (metaph.)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in dialogue on dharma/omens)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Candra
• Arka (Surya)
• Dharaṇīśa (kings/rulers)

FAQs

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

It frames celestial events (grahaṇa) as dharmic indicators (nimitta) that mirror collective karma—warning society and rulers to restore order, restraint, and righteous governance.

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

While not directly prescribing bhakti, it supports a bhakti-aligned worldview: cosmic disturbances prompt humility, self-correction, and renewed adherence to dharma—conditions that strengthen devotion and disciplined living.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa Vedāṅga: interpreting the timing of solar and lunar eclipses as predictive indicators (grahaṇa-phala) for political conflict and rainfall/prosperity outcomes.