Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 97

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

Devanagari script

ह्रस्वः स्निग्धः सुप्रसन्नः श्वेतकेतुः सुवृष्टिकृत् । क्षिप्रादस्तमयं याति दीर्घकेतुरवृष्टिकृत् ॥ ९७ ॥

Transliteration

hrasvaḥ snigdhaḥ suprasannaḥ śvetaketuḥ suvṛṣṭikṛt | kṣiprādastamayaṃ yāti dīrghaketuravṛṣṭikṛt || 97 ||

Translation

La comète dont la queue est courte, luisante, très limpide et blanche est cause de bonnes pluies. Elle disparaît vite ; tandis que la comète à longue queue est cause de sécheresse, d’absence de pluie.

Word by Word

• ह्रस्वः: short
• ह्रस्वः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ह्रस्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्निग्धः: smooth/lustrous
• स्निग्धः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सुप्रसन्नः: very bright/serene
• सुप्रसन्नः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'सु-प्रसन्नः' (very clear/pleasant)

• श्वेतकेतुः: the white comet
• श्वेतकेतुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वेत + केतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'श्वेतः केतुः'

• सुवृष्टिकृत्: causing good rainfall
• सुवृष्टिकृत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + वृष्टि + कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय: क्विप्/कृत्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'सुवृष्टिं करोति' इति (causing good rain)

• क्षिप्रात्: quickly
• क्षिप्रात्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणार्थे पञ्चमी-रूप (ablatival adverb): 'quickly'

• अस्तमयम्: setting/disappearance
• अस्तमयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्तमय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• याति: goes/reaches
• याति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दीर्घकेतुः: the long-tailed comet
• दीर्घकेतुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीर्घ + केतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'दीर्घः केतुः'

• अवृष्टिकृत्: causing drought/no rain
• अवृष्टिकृत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + वृष्टि + कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय: क्विप्/कृत्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'अवृष्टिं करोति' इति (causing no rain)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Vedanga-style, omen/astronomy-astrology context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Śvetaketu (as a comet/ketu-phenomenon)

FAQs

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

It frames celestial phenomena (ketu/comets) as meaningful indicators within dharma-governed nature, urging discernment and responsibility in responding to environmental signs rather than superstition.

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

Indirectly: by showing that the cosmos is orderly and intelligible, it supports a devotional worldview where nature reflects divine governance—encouraging humility, prayer, and righteous conduct during signs of scarcity or abundance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedanga Jyotiṣa (astral science) and nimitta-śāstra style interpretation: short, bright, white-tailed comets indicate good rains, while long-tailed comets indicate drought.