Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

घटोक्ष्णस्तु समः कर्कचापयोः शरसन्निभः । चापवत्कौर्महर्योश्च शूलवत्तुलकर्कयोः ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

ghaṭokṣṇastu samaḥ karkacāpayoḥ śarasannibhaḥ | cāpavatkaurmaharyośca śūlavattulakarkayoḥ || 19 ||

Translation

Le signe nommé ghaṭokṣṇa est identique pour le Cancer et le Sagittaire et ressemble à une flèche. Pour le Capricorne et le Lion, il est comme un arc ; et pour la Balance et le Cancer, il est comme une lance (arme à pointe).

Word by Word

• ghaṭa-okṣṇaḥ: (having) pot-like/rounded horns (contextual epithet)
• ghaṭa-okṣṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghaṭa (प्रातिपदिक) + okṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); epithet (possibly of candraḥ understood)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (अव्यय, निपात)

• samaḥ: equal/similar
• samaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• karka-cāpayoḥ: of Cancer and Sagittarius
• karka-cāpayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karka (प्रातिपदिक) + cāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); ‘of Cancer and Sagittarius’

• śara-sannibhaḥ: resembling an arrow
• śara-sannibhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक) + sannibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘arrow-like’

• cāpa-vat: bow-like
• cāpa-vat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित प्रत्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable-like adjectival (वत्-प्रत्यय); here used predicatively; ‘having/like a bow’

• kaurma-haryoḥ: of Kaurma and Hari
• kaurma-haryoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaurma (प्रातिपदिक) + hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); ‘of Kaurma and Hari’ (sign-names)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction (अव्यय, समुच्चय)

• śūla-vat: spear-like
• śūla-vat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित प्रत्यय)
• Form: वत्-derivative adjective; predicative usage; ‘spear-like’

• tula-karkayoḥ: of Libra and Cancer
• tula-karkayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tulā (प्रातिपदिक) + karka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); ‘of Libra and Cancer’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It shows that even within Moksha Dharma, the Narada Purana preserves Vedanga-Jyotisha knowledge—symbolic indicators linked with rāśis—supporting a disciplined, scriptural approach to dharma that ultimately steadies the mind for liberation.

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

The verse is technical (Jyotisha) rather than directly devotional; its bhakti relevance is indirect—by organizing time/signs and traditional indicators, it supports orderly dharmic living and vrata-timing that can be dedicated to Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedanga Jyotisha: the verse gives rāśi-wise iconographic descriptions (arrow, bow, spear) for a named indicator (ghaṭokṣṇa), useful for traditional astrological classification and interpretive practice.