Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 102

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

Devanagari script

पितामहात्मजः केतुस्त्रिवर्णस्त्रिदशान्वितः । ब्रह्मदंडाद्धूमकेतुः प्रजानामंतकृन्मतः ॥ १०२ ॥

Transliteration

pitāmahātmajaḥ ketustrivarṇastridaśānvitaḥ | brahmadaṃḍāddhūmaketuḥ prajānāmaṃtakṛnmataḥ || 102 ||

Translation

Ketu, fils de Pitāmaha (Brahmā), est dit de trois teintes et accompagné des dieux. Né du bâton de Brahmā, il est nommé Dhūmaketu, « au drapeau de fumée », et l’on le tient pour celui qui apporte la fin aux êtres vivants.

Word by Word

• pitāmahātmajaḥ: grandson (son of the grandfather)
• pitāmahātmajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitāmaha + ātmaja (प्रातिपदिक; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—पितामह-आत्मज (पितामहस्य आत्मजः)

• ketuḥ: Ketu / comet
• ketuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ketu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• trivarṇaḥ: three-colored
• trivarṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक; द्विगु/कर्मधारय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—त्रि-वर्ण (त्रयो वर्णाः यस्य)

• tridaśānvitaḥ: accompanied by the gods
• tridaśānvitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri-daśa + anvita (प्रातिपदिक; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—त्रिदश-अन्वित (त्रिदशैः अन्वितः = accompanied by the gods)

• brahmadaṇḍāt: from Brahmā’s staff
• brahmadaṇḍāt: Apādāna (अपादान/पञ्चमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma + daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समासः—ब्रह्म-दण्ड (ब्रह्मणः दण्डः)

• dhūmaketuḥ: smoke-bannered one; a comet
• dhūmaketuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūma + ketu (प्रातिपदिक; कर्मधारय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—धूम-केतु (धूमः केतुः)

• prajānām: of creatures/people
• prajānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• antakṛt: bringing an end; destructive
• antakṛt: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: anta + kṛt (प्रातिपदिक; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः—अन्त-कृत् (अन्तं करोति)

• mataḥ: considered (to be)
• mataḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: man (धातु) + ta (कृदन्त; मत)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/ta), ‘considered/held to be’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ketu
• Brahma (Pitamaha)
• Devas (Tridasha)

FAQs

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

It frames Ketu as a cosmic force of cessation—reminding the seeker that all embodied conditions end, thereby turning the mind toward vairāgya (dispassion) and mokṣa-oriented living.

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

By emphasizing the inevitability of endings, the verse indirectly urges reliance on the deathless refuge—Bhagavān—so devotion becomes the stable anchor amid change and dissolution.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedic astrology): it identifies Ketu/Dhūmaketu with specific attributes and a feared ‘ending-making’ influence, a basis for interpreting graha effects and considering śānti or devotional remedies in practice.