Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 106

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

Devanagari script

अरुणाः श्यामलाकारा अर्कपुत्राश्च पापदाः । शुक्रजा ऋक्षसदृशाः केतवः शुभदायकाः ॥ १०६ ॥

Transliteration

aruṇāḥ śyāmalākārā arkaputrāśca pāpadāḥ | śukrajā ṛkṣasadṛśāḥ ketavaḥ śubhadāyakāḥ || 106 ||

Translation

Les Aruṇa ont une apparence sombre et, étant fils du Soleil, dispensent des effets nuisibles. Les Ketu nés de Vénus ressemblent à des ours et accordent des issues favorables et de bon augure.

Word by Word

• aruṇāḥ: reddish, tawny
• aruṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana (Plural/बहुवचन)

• śyāmala-ākārāḥ: having a dark appearance
• śyāmala-ākārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śyāmala (प्रातिपदिक) + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; karmadhāraya compound: 'śyāmalaḥ ākāraḥ' (dark form/appearance)

• arka-putrāḥ: sons of Arka (the Sun)
• arka-putrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arka (प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: 'arkasya putrāḥ' (sons of the Sun)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avadhāraṇa particle (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• pāpa-dāḥ: evil-giving, causing sin
• pāpa-dāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + dā (धा॒ धातु)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; upapada-kr̥danta with -da (giver): 'pāpaṃ dadāti' (one who gives evil)

• śukra-jāḥ: born of Śukra (Venus)
• śukra-jāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śukra (प्रातिपदिक) + jan (जन् धातु)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; upapada-kr̥danta -ja (born from): 'śukrāt jātaḥ'

• ṛkṣa-sadṛśāḥ: resembling ṛkṣa (bear/constellation)
• ṛkṣa-sadṛśāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; tatpuruṣa: 'ṛkṣavat sadṛśāḥ' (like bears / like stars/constellations depending on context)

• ketavaḥ: comets/meteors (ketus)
• ketavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ketu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• śubha-dāyakāḥ: auspicious-giving
• śubha-dāyakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक) + dā (दा धातु) + -yaka (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; agent-noun: 'śubhaṃ dāyati/dadāti' (bestowing auspiciousness)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Arka (Surya)
• Shukra
• Ketu

FAQs

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

It frames celestial phenomena (Aruṇas and Ketus) as carriers of karma-like results—some inauspicious and some auspicious—encouraging discernment and dharmic response rather than superstition.

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

Indirectly, it supports Bhakti by reminding the listener that worldly signs yield mixed results; steadiness in dharma and devotion is implied as the stabilizing refuge amid auspicious/inauspicious outcomes.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology): it categorizes celestial omens (Ketu-types) by origin (Sun/Venus) and predicts their phala (results), distinguishing śubha (beneficial) from pāpa (harmful) indications.