Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

विपरीतोदितश्चन्द्रो दुर्भिक्षकलहप्रदः । आषाढद्वयमूलेन्द्र धिष्ण्यानां याम्यगः शशी ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

viparītoditaścandro durbhikṣakalahapradaḥ | āṣāḍhadvayamūlendra dhiṣṇyānāṃ yāmyagaḥ śaśī || 20 ||

Translation

Lorsque la Lune se lève d’une manière inversée (de mauvais augure), elle devient dispensatrice de famine et de querelles. De même, lorsque la Lune suit la course méridionale parmi les demeures lunaires—surtout dans les deux Āṣāḍhā, Mūla et Jyeṣṭhā—elle engendre des effets défavorables.

Word by Word

• viparīta-uditaḥ: risen in reverse/inauspiciously
• viparīta-uditaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viparīta (प्रातिपदिक) + udita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: ‘contrarily risen’

• candraḥ: the Moon
• candraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• durbhikṣa-kalaha-pradaḥ: causing famine and strife
• durbhikṣa-kalaha-pradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: durbhikṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + kalaha (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); multi-member तत्पुरुष: ‘giver of famine and quarrel’

• āṣāḍha-dvaya-mūla-indra: O Indra (re: Āṣāḍhā-dvaya, Mūla)
• āṣāḍha-dvaya-mūla-indra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āṣāḍha (प्रातिपदिक) + dvaya (प्रातिपदिक) + mūla (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); addressing ‘O Indra’; dvandva list of nakṣatras: (Pūrva/Uttara) Āṣāḍhā, Mūla (and possibly Indra = Jyeṣṭhā’s deity/epithet)

• dhiṣṇyānām: of the lunar mansions/asterisms
• dhiṣṇyānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhiṣṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yāmya-gaḥ: moving southward
• yāmya-gaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yāmya (प्रातिपदिक) + ga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); ‘going southward’

• śaśī: the Moon
• śaśī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Chandra (Moon)

FAQs

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

It frames celestial irregularities—especially of the Moon—as dharmic warnings, urging rulers and householders to respond with restraint, charity, and corrective rites rather than panic.

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

Indirectly: by treating cosmic disturbances as reminders to seek refuge in righteous conduct and devotional practices (such as prayer, charity, and purification), instead of reacting with fear and conflict.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology): it notes inauspicious lunar behavior and specific nakṣatra contexts (Āṣāḍhā-dvaya, Mūla, Jyeṣṭhā; southern course) as indicators of famine and social quarrels.