Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Jyotiṣa-saṅgraha: Varga-vibhāga, Bala-nirṇaya, Garbha-phala, Āyuḥ-gaṇanā

Devanagari script

क्लिबौ बुधार्की शुक्रेन्दू स्रियौ शेषा नराः स्मृताः । शिखिभूमिपयोवारिवासिनो भूसुतादयः ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

klibau budhārkī śukrendū sriyau śeṣā narāḥ smṛtāḥ | śikhibhūmipayovārivāsino bhūsutādayaḥ || 18 ||

Translation

Budha (Merkurius) dan Surya (Matahari) disebut berwatak netral; Sukra (Venus) dan Candra (Bulan) berwatak feminin; selebihnya dipandang maskulin. Demikian pula makhluk ‘penghuni api’, ‘penghuni bumi’, ‘penghuni air’, serta yang seperti Bhusuta (Mars) diklasifikasikan serupa.

Word by Word

• क्लिबौ: neuter/impotent (as a classification)
• क्लिबौ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्लिब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; ‘नपुंसक/क्लिब’ अर्थे विशेषण

• बुध-अर्की: Budha and Arka (Sun)
• बुध-अर्की: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध + अर्किन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (बुधः च अर्की/अर्कः च)

• शुक्र-इन्दू: Shukra and Indu (Moon)
• शुक्र-इन्दू: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक्र + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व

• स्रियौ: female (as a classification)
• स्रियौ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्त्री/श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; ‘स्त्री’ अर्थे विशेषण

• शेषाः: the remaining (others)
• शेषाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• नराः: men/male
• नराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• स्मृताः: are considered/are said
• स्मृताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘are said/considered’

• शिखि-भूमि-पयस्-वारि-वासिनः: dwellers in fire, earth, milk/water (liquids)
• शिखि-भूमि-पयस्-वारि-वासिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखि + भूमि + पयस् + वारि + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (अग्नि-भूमि-जल-जल-वासिनः = तेषु वसन्तः)

• भू-सुत-आदयः: Bhūsuta (son of Earth) and others
• भू-सुत-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू + सुत + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भूः सुतः = भूसुतः) + ‘आदि’ (etc.)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Budha (Mercury)
• Surya (Sun)
• Shukra (Venus)
• Chandra (Moon)
• Bhūsuta (Mars)
• Agni (Fire)

FAQs

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

It preserves a technical Jyotiṣa convention (gender of grahas and related beings) that supports correct mantra-usage and ritual language, showing that Mokṣa-dharma practice is strengthened by precise Vedāṅga knowledge.

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing correctness in sacred speech and ritual conventions, it safeguards the devotional practitioner’s offerings and recitations, which in Purāṇic practice are meant to be performed with śraddhā and proper form.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa (astrological/astronomical convention): the grammatical gender-assignment of planets (grahas) and allied categories, used in composing and applying mantras, stotras, and ritual statements.