Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

कूक्रं वक्रमुखं ज्ञेयं सस्यवृष्टिविनाशकृत् । कुजे त्रयोदशे ऋक्षे वक्रिते वा चतुर्दशे ॥ २९ ॥

Transliteration

kūkraṃ vakramukhaṃ jñeyaṃ sasyavṛṣṭivināśakṛt | kuje trayodaśe ṛkṣe vakrite vā caturdaśe || 29 ||

Translation

Sache que le présage nommé Kūkra est « celui au visage courbé » ; il cause la ruine des récoltes et des pluies. Il est indiqué lorsque, un mardi, la Lune se trouve dans la treizième demeure lunaire, ou lorsqu’elle est dans la quatorzième tandis que prévaut l’état « Vakrita » (courbé/rétrograde).

Word by Word

• कूक्रम्: Kūkra (a designation)
• कूक्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Predicate-complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूक्र (प्रातिपदिक; technical/proper term)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular

• वक्रमुखम्: crooked-faced
• वक्रमुखम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वक्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक; वक्र + मुख)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'having a crooked face/mouth'

• ज्ञेयम्: should be known as
• ज्ञेयम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञेय (कृदन्त, तव्यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; gerundive (tavya): 'to be known/should be understood'

• सस्यवृष्टिविनाशकृत्: destroyer of crops and rain
• सस्यवृष्टिविनाशकृत्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सस्य + वृष्टि + विनाश + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; nominative singular; 'one who causes destruction of crops and rain'

• कुजे: when Mars is (there)
• कुजे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular

• त्रयोदशे: in the thirteenth
• त्रयोदशे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रयोदश (प्रातिपदिक; संख्या)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular; 'in the thirteenth' (with ṛkṣe)

• ऋक्षे: in the asterism
• ऋक्षे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular

• वक्रिते: in retrograde state
• वक्रिते: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्रित (प्रातिपदिक; from वक्र)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular; 'in retrogression/curvature'

• वा: or
• वा: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय; 'or'

• चतुर्दशे: in the fourteenth
• चतुर्दशे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दश (प्रातिपदिक; संख्या)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative singular; 'in the fourteenth' (with ṛkṣe understood)

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a śāstra-style exposition, traditionally in dialogue with Sanatkumara)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Kuja (Mars)

FAQs

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

It shows how Purāṇic teaching includes practical Vedāṅga knowledge (Jyotiṣa) to read time (kāla) responsibly, reminding practitioners that worldly prosperity (rain, crops) is also governed by dharmic order and careful observation.

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

Bhakti is not stated directly here; instead, the verse supports a devotional life indirectly by guiding householders to align actions with auspicious time, reducing harm and anxiety—thereby sustaining steadiness for worship and dharma.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa: the verse links weekday (Tuesday/Mars), nakṣatra numbering (13th/14th), and a ‘vakra’ (crooked/retrograde) condition to predict adverse outcomes like loss of rain and crop damage.