Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

निशींदुकुजसौराश्च सर्वदा क्षोह्नि चापरे । क्रूराः कृष्णे सिते सौम्याः मतं कालबलं बुधैः ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

niśīṃdukujasaurāśca sarvadā kṣohni cāpare | krūrāḥ kṛṣṇe site saumyāḥ mataṃ kālabalaṃ budhaiḥ || 30 ||

Translation

La nuit, la Lune, Mars et Saturne sont tenus pour toujours âpres; et d’autres encore deviennent âpres lorsque leur influence est troublée. Dans la quinzaine sombre (kṛṣṇa-pakṣa) on les juge sévères, tandis que dans la quinzaine claire (śukla-pakṣa) on les juge doux : telle est l’opinion des sages sur la force du Temps (kāla-bala).

Word by Word

• निशि: at night
• निशि: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: निशि (अव्यय/सप्तमी-एकवचन of निशा used adverbially)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग (locative used adverbially): ‘at night’

• इन्दु-कुज-सौराः: the Moon, Mars, and Saturn
• इन्दु-कुज-सौराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक) + कुज (प्रातिपदिक) + सौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वः (Moon, Mars, Saturn)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• क्षोभ्णि: in agitation/disturbance
• क्षोभ्णि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षोभ्णि/क्षोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; technical/rare form

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—समुच्चय

• अपरे: others
• अपरे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• क्रूराः: harsh/malefic
• क्रूराः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• कृष्णे: in the dark (half)
• कृष्णे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; ‘in the dark (fortnight)’

• सिते: in the bright (half)
• सिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘in the bright (fortnight)’

• सौम्याः: gentle/benefic
• सौम्याः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मतम्: is considered/opinion
• मतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (PPP) used as neuter predicate; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• काल-बलम्: strength due to time
• काल-बलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः

• बुधैः: by the wise (scholars)
• बुधैः: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha Dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Chandra (Moon)
• Mangala (Mars)
• Shani (Saturn)
• Kala (Time)

FAQs

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

It teaches that spiritual and ritual actions should respect kāla (time) and its strength, since timing—especially lunar fortnight dynamics—affects the ease or intensity (saumya/krūra) of outcomes.

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

While not directly prescribing bhakti, it supports devotional practice by advising wise timing for vrata, japa, and worship—reducing obstacles by aligning sādhana with favorable kāla-bala.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology): assessment of kāla-bala through pakṣa (dark/bright fortnight) and the functional nature of grahas like Chandra, Mangala, and Shani for selecting auspicious periods.