Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 123

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

Devanagari script

अंशोनाः शंत्रुभे कार्या ग्रहं वक्रगतिं विना । मंदशुक्तौ विनार्द्धोना ग्रहस्यास्तंगतस्य च ॥ १२३ ॥

Transliteration

aṃśonāḥ śaṃtrubhe kāryā grahaṃ vakragatiṃ vinā | maṃdaśuktau vinārddhonā grahasyāstaṃgatasya ca || 123 ||

Translation

不吉で敵対的な配置では、惑星の作用は一定の分だけ減ずるものとする—ただし逆行（vakra）でない場合に限る。さらに、弱勢・鈍重のとき、また没して見えぬ（astaṅgata）ときは、その威力を半減として数えるべきである。

Word by Word

• aṃśa-onāḥ: reduced by degrees
• aṃśa-onāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of (implicit) aṃśāḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक) + ūna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'deficient in parts/degrees'

• śaṃtru-bhe: in śaṃtrubha (technical asterism)
• śaṃtru-bhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃtru (प्रातिपदिक) + bha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'in the śaṃtru-bha (a technical nakṣatra/asterism term)'

• kāryāḥ: to be made/done
• kāryāḥ: Vidhi (विधेय/obligatory predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √kṛ (धातु) + ya (प्रत्यय) → kārya (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Gerundive/necessitative (भाव्य/तव्यत्-अर्थ), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• graham: the planet/graha
• graham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vakra-gatim: retrograde motion
• vakra-gatim: Karma (कर्म) (object with vinā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vakra (प्रातिपदिक) + gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: 'crooked = retrograde motion'

• vinā: without
• vinā: Nivṛtti/Apavāda (अपवाद/without)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: Preposition/particle governing accusative (उपसर्गसदृश-अव्यय)

• manda-śuktau: in mandaśukti (technical condition)
• manda-śuktau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manda (प्रातिपदिक) + śukti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: 'slow/manda śukti' (technical term)

• vinā: without
• vinā: Nivṛtti/Apavāda (अपवाद/without)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: Preposition/particle governing accusative (उपसर्गसदृश-अव्यय)

• arddha-onāḥ: half-reduced
• arddha-onāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of (implicit) aṃśāḥ/kāryāḥ
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arddha (प्रातिपदिक) + ūna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'reduced by half'

• grahasya: of the planet
• grahasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: graha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• astaṃ-gatasya: of the set (planet)
• astaṃ-gatasya: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of grahasya
• Type: Adjective
• Root: astaṃ (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + gata (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); अव्ययीभाव: 'gone to setting' = 'set/under eclipse of visibility'

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/vidyā mode within the Moksha Dharma section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Graha (planet)

FAQs

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

It frames Jyotiṣa as a dharmic tool: by correctly judging a planet’s diminished strength (weakness or setting), one avoids misguided timing and aligns actions with order (dharma), supporting steadiness on the path to mokṣa.

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

Indirectly: it advises discernment in worldly planning so that vows, worship, and disciplined practice are performed with fewer obstacles—helping the devotee keep consistent bhakti rather than being derailed by poorly chosen timings.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa: assessing graha-bala (planetary strength) using conditions like vakra (retrograde), manda (weak/sluggish), and asta (set/combust/invisible), and applying proportional reduction (aṃśa/arddha) to interpret results.