Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

धूम्रैर्नृपपिशंगैस्तु जलदाधोमुखैर्जगत् । शुभोर्कः शिशिरे ताम्रः कुंकुमाभा वसन्तिके ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

dhūmrairnṛpapiśaṃgaistu jaladādhomukhairjagat | śubhorkaḥ śiśire tāmraḥ kuṃkumābhā vasantike || 8 ||

Translation

Sous des nuages couleur de fumée et fauves, pendants et bas, le monde paraît couvert d’ombre. Le Soleil de bon augure, en hiver, semble cuivré; et au printemps il brille d’un éclat semblable au safran.

Word by Word

• धूम्रैः: by/with smoky-gray (rays)
• धूम्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धूम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) बहुवचन; instrumental plural; विशेषण

• नृप-पिशङ्गैः: king-tawny (brownish like a king's hue)
• नृप-पिशङ्गैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + पिशङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) बहुवचन; instrumental plural; विशेषण

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), contrast/emphasis

• जलद-अधो-मुखैः: cloud-facing-downward (clouds below-facing)
• जलद-अधो-मुखैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जलद (प्रातिपदिक) + अधस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) बहुवचन; instrumental plural; विशेषण

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular (context: affected entity)

• शुभ-उर्कः: the auspicious sun
• शुभ-उर्कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + उर्क/अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता) एकवचन; nominative singular

• शिशिरे: in winter
• शिशिरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण) एकवचन; locative singular (season)

• ताम्रः: coppery/reddish
• ताम्रः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विशेषण) एकवचन; nominative singular; predicate adjective

• कुङ्कुम-आभा: having saffron-like luster
• कुङ्कुम-आभा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुङ्कुम (प्रातिपदिक) + आभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (विशेषण) एकवचन; nominative singular; predicate adjective

• वसन्तिके: in spring
• वसन्तिके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण) एकवचन; locative singular (spring season)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Moksha-Dharma discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Surya (Arka)
• Ritu (Shishira)
• Ritu (Vasanta)
• Jalada (clouds)

FAQs

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

It points to ritu-lakṣaṇa (seasonal characteristics) as a way of seeing ṛta (cosmic order) expressed in nature—training the mind to observe reality steadily, which supports inner discipline in Moksha-Dharma.

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

By calling the sun “auspicious” and describing its seasonal radiance, the verse encourages reverent awareness of the divine order in creation—an attitude that naturally matures into gratitude and devotion.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with Jyotiṣa-style observation: seasonal indicators and solar appearance are used for recognizing time (kāla) and auspicious conditions, supporting practical timing for vrata, worship, and daily rites.