Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 85

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

Devanagari script

मंदार्चने वा तमसि शयनं नीचगेभुवि । शीर्षे पृष्टोदये जन्म तद्वदेव विनिर्दिशेत् ॥ ८५ ॥

Transliteration

maṃdārcane vā tamasi śayanaṃ nīcagebhuvi | śīrṣe pṛṣṭodaye janma tadvadeva vinirdiśet || 85 ||

Translation

ഇരുട്ടിൽ ശയിക്കുക, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ താഴ്ന്ന നിലത്തുകിടക്കുക, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ലഗ്നം ‘ശിരസ്’ ഭാഗത്തും ‘പൃഷ്ഠ’ ഉദയിക്കുകയും ചെയ്താൽ—ഫലം മുൻപ് പറഞ്ഞതുപോലെ തന്നെയെന്ന് അറിയണം.

Word by Word

• मन्द-अर्चने: in Saturn-worship/propitiation
• मन्द-अर्चने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative singular (in Saturn’s worship/rite)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• तमसि: in darkness
• तमसि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative singular

• शयनम्: sleeping/lying down
• शयनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

• नीच-गे-भुवि: on low ground/on the ground below
• नीच-गे-भुवि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीच (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + भुवि/भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative singular; ‘भुवि’ = on the ground; ‘नीचगे’ = low-going/low place

• शीर्षे: at the head (side)
• शीर्षे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative singular

• पृष्ठ-उदये: at the rising behind/backward (reverse rising)
• पृष्ठ-उदये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + उदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative singular

• जन्म: birth
• जन्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; nominative singular

• तत्-वत्-एव: just so/in the same way
• तत्-वत्-एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (प्रातिपदिक) + एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग; ‘तद्वत्’ (indeclinable adverb) + एव (emphasis)

• विनिर्दिशेत्: one should declare/indicate
• विनिर्दिशेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + निर् + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; optative

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It treats certain conditions—darkness, improper sleeping places, and specific birth-time indications—as inauspicious nimittas, teaching vigilance in conduct and timing as part of Dharma-oriented living.

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

Indirectly: by discouraging tamasic habits and inauspicious settings, it supports a sattvic lifestyle that traditionally aids steadiness of mind, which is favorable for Vishnu-bhakti and disciplined practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa/Nimitta-style reasoning: interpreting birth-time and situational signs as carrying predictable outcomes, and classifying certain timings/conditions as equivalent in result to previously described inauspicious indicators.