Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

उदयास्तमये भानुराच्छिन्नः शस्त्रसन्निभैः । घनैर्युद्धं खरोष्ष्ट्राद्यैः पापरूपैर्भयप्रदम् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

udayāstamaye bhānurācchinnaḥ śastrasannibhaiḥ | ghanairyuddhaṃ kharoṣṣṭrādyaiḥ pāparūpairbhayapradam || 17 ||

Translation

Au lever et au coucher, le Soleil apparaît comme tranché par des nuées semblables à des armes. C’est un combat effrayant, comme s’il était mené par des formes pécheresses et redoutables, telles que l’âne et le chameau.

Word by Word

• udaya-astamaye: at sunrise and sunset
• udaya-astamaye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: udaya (प्रातिपदिक) + astamaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (contextual; commonly masculine), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); द्वन्द्व used as a locative of time ‘at rise and set’

• bhānuḥ: the Sun
• bhānuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhānu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ācchinnaḥ: covered/obscured
• ācchinnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√chid (छिद्) (धातु) → ācchinna (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त); Masculine, Nominative, Singular; predicate of bhānuḥ

• śastra-sannibhaiḥ: by (things) resembling weapons
• śastra-sannibhaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śastra (प्रातिपदिक) + sannibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); उपमान-तत्पुरुष: ‘similar to weapons’

• ghanaiḥ: by clouds/masses
• ghanaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ghana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yuddham: battle/fight
• yuddham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• khara-uṣṭra-ādyaiḥ: by (ones) like donkeys, camels, etc.
• khara-uṣṭra-ādyaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khara (प्रातिपदिक) + uṣṭra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); समाहार/समुच्चय sense: ‘with (forms) like donkey, camel, etc.’

• pāpa-rūpaiḥ: by evil forms
• pāpa-rūpaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारय: ‘evil-formed’

• bhaya-pradam: fear-causing
• bhaya-pradam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies yuddham: ‘fear-giving’

Speaker

Narada (as narrator within the Moksha-dharma discourse; traditional dialogue context with Sanatkumara lineage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Surya (Bhanu)

FAQs

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

It treats sunrise and sunset (sandhyā) as spiritually sensitive times and warns that fearful, inauspicious appearances in nature can function as nimittas (portents), prompting vigilance, purification, and steadiness of mind.

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

By highlighting fear and inauspicious signs, it implicitly directs the devotee to take refuge in divine remembrance and disciplined worship at sandhyā, transforming anxiety into God-centered steadiness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with Jyotiṣa/Nimitta-śāstra style observation—reading natural phenomena at key times (sunrise/sunset) as indicators—encouraging timely sandhyā practices and attention to auspiciousness in daily routine.