Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 190

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

Devanagari script

उत्तरात्रयमैतेन्द्र वसुवारुणभेषु च । पुष्यार्कपौष्णधिष्ण्येषु नृत्यारंभः प्रशस्यते ॥ १९० ॥

Transliteration

uttarātrayamaitendra vasuvāruṇabheṣu ca | puṣyārkapauṣṇadhiṣṇyeṣu nṛtyāraṃbhaḥ praśasyate || 190 ||

Translation

Le commencement de l’apprentissage ou de l’exécution de la danse est tenu pour particulièrement propice durant les trois jours Uttara (les jours ultérieurs), ainsi que sous les constellations Aitendra, Vasu, Vāruṇa et Bheṣa; de même sous les astérismes Puṣya, Arka et Pauṣṇa.

Word by Word

• uttarā-trayam: the three Uttaras
• uttarā-trayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttarā (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (‘the three Uttara(-nakṣatras)’)

• āitendra: in the Āitendra group
• āitendra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āitendra (प्रातिपदिक; group-name)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (as category/adhikaraṇa)

• vasu-vāruṇa-bheṣu: in the Vasu and Vāruṇa groups
• vasu-vāruṇa-bheṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasu (प्रातिपदिक) + vāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + bha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; समाहार-द्वन्द्वसमास

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• puṣya-arka-pauṣṇa-dhiṣṇyeṣu: in the Puṣya, Arka, Pauṣṇa, and Dhiṣṇya groups
• puṣya-arka-pauṣṇa-dhiṣṇyeṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣya (प्रातिपदिक) + arka (प्रातिपदिक) + pauṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + dhiṣṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural; समाहार-द्वन्द्वसमास (list of groups/constellations)

• nṛtya-ārambhaḥ: the beginning of dancing
• nṛtya-ārambhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛtya (प्रातिपदिक) + ārambha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘commencement of dance’)

• praśasyate: is commended
• praśasyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-śaṃs (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्/present), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद) passive-like sense ‘is praised/commended’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada within the Moksha-dharma and auspicious-timing discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It frames even artistic pursuits like dance within dharmic order by aligning beginnings (ārambha) with auspicious cosmic timings, reflecting the Purana’s emphasis on sanctifying action through right time (kāla).

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

While not explicitly naming Bhakti, it supports devotional culture by prescribing auspicious starts for arts often used in worship and temple traditions, encouraging disciplined, sacred intention in offerings of skill.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa (astral timing): it lists specific nakṣatras/periods recommended as muhūrta for initiating dance, illustrating applied astrology for selecting favorable beginnings.