Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 108

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

Devanagari script

सुभिक्षकृत्कौमुदाख्यः केतुः कुमुदसन्निभः । आवर्तकेतुसंध्यायां शशिरो नेष्टदायकः ॥ १०८ ॥

Transliteration

subhikṣakṛtkaumudākhyaḥ ketuḥ kumudasannibhaḥ | āvartaketusaṃdhyāyāṃ śaśiro neṣṭadāyakaḥ || 108 ||

Translation

Le Ketu nommé Kaumuda—qui procure l’abondance des récoltes—apparaît, semblable à un nénuphar blanc. Mais lorsque le crépuscule est marqué par un Ketu tourbillonnant (āvarta), la Lune (Śaśin) devient dispensatrice de l’indésirable, d’effets de mauvais augure.

Word by Word

• subhikṣa-kṛt: bringing abundance
• subhikṣa-kṛt: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: subhikṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; upapada-kr̥danta -kṛt: 'subhikṣaṃ karoti' (causing good harvest/abundance)

• kaumuda-ākhyaḥ: named Kaumuda
• kaumuda-ākhyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaumuda (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'kaumuda iti ākhyaḥ' (named Kaumuda)

• ketuḥ: comet/meteor (ketu)
• ketuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ketu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• kumuda-sannibhaḥ: resembling a kumuda (water-lily)
• kumuda-sannibhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kumuda (प्रातिपदिक) + sannibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: 'kumudavat sannibhaḥ' (like a water-lily)

• āvarta-ketu-saṃdhyāyām: at (the time/place of) Āvartaketu-twilight
• āvarta-ketu-saṃdhyāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āvarta (प्रातिपदिक) + ketu (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃdhyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa (multi-member): 'āvartaketoḥ saṃdhyā' / 'āvarta-ketu-saṃdhyā' (at the twilight named Āvartaketu / connected with Āvartaketu)

• śaśī: the Moon
• śaśī: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-nipāta (negative particle/निषेध)

• iṣṭa-dāyakaḥ: giver of desired (boons)
• iṣṭa-dāyakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: iṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + dā (दा धातु) + -yaka (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agent-noun: 'iṣṭaṃ dadāti' (giver of desired things)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Ketu
• Chandra (Shashi)

FAQs

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

It frames celestial phenomena as dharmic indicators: some omens support well-being (subhikṣa), while others warn of adverse outcomes, encouraging vigilance and right conduct.

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

Indirectly: by highlighting inauspicious periods, it implies the devotee should intensify sādhana—japa, pūjā, and Viṣṇu-smaraṇa—rather than be careless when signs indicate disorder.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology/omenology): classification of Ketu-comet appearances and their predicted effects, especially when occurring at saṃdhyā (twilight) in relation to the Moon.