Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

भिषक्तरंगवाणिज्यवृत्तीनां नाशकृत्तदा । पूर्वात्रयेचरन्सौम्यो योगतारां भिनत्ति चेत् ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

bhiṣaktaraṃgavāṇijyavṛttīnāṃ nāśakṛttadā | pūrvātrayecaransaumyo yogatārāṃ bhinatti cet || 43 ||

Translation

En ce temps-là, cela devient destructeur pour les métiers de la médecine, de la navigation et du commerce, si Saumya (Mercure), en parcourant la première triade d’astérismes, venait à percer l’étoile du Yoga.

Word by Word

• bhiṣak-taraṅga-vāṇijya-vṛttīnām: of the professions of physicians, seafaring (waves), and trade
• bhiṣak-taraṅga-vāṇijya-vṛttīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhiṣak + taraṅga + vāṇijya + vṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (वृत्ति), षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (वृत्तीनाम् = ‘occupations/professions’ qualified by preceding members: physician, waves/sea, trade)

• nāśa-kṛt: causing destruction
• nāśa-kṛt: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nāśa + kṛt (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘कृत्’ (कर्तरि) — ‘नाशं करोति’

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय

• pūrva-traye: in the three Pūrvā (stars)
• pūrva-traye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūrva + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘पूर्वाणि त्रयाणि’ = ‘the three Pūrvā (nakṣatras)’)

• caran: moving
• caran: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: car (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• saumyaḥ: Saumya (Budha/Mercury)
• saumyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saumya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बुध-पर्याय

• yoga-tārām: the Yoga-star
• yoga-tārām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga + tārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (‘योगस्य तारा’ = ‘Yoga-star’, a specific nakṣatra/asterism designation)

• bhinatti: splits/afflicts
• bhinatti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhid (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• cet: if
• cet: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cet (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (conditional particle)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Saumya (Mercury)

FAQs

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

It frames Jyotiṣa as a Vedāṅga tool for discerning favorable and unfavorable periods, reminding the seeker that worldly pursuits are time-bound and should be guided by dharma and higher aims.

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

Indirectly, it shows that even when planetary factors threaten worldly livelihoods, the devotee anchors decisions in dharma and turns to Vishnu-bhakti for steadiness beyond changing time and fate.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa: interpreting Mercury’s transit through specific nakṣatra groupings and its ‘piercing’ of a reference star (yoga-tārā) as an indicator affecting professions like medicine, sea-travel, and commerce.