Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 97

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

Devanagari script

तिलकृन्मसकृदष्टसौम्यैर्युक्तश्च लक्ष्मवान् । चतुरस्रः पिंगदृक् च पैत्तिकोऽल्पकचो रविः ॥ ९७ ॥

Transliteration

tilakṛnmasakṛdaṣṭasaumyairyuktaśca lakṣmavān | caturasraḥ piṃgadṛk ca paittiko'lpakaco raviḥ || 97 ||

Translation

തിലകവും ചെറിയ ശുഭ തിലചിഹ്നങ്ങളും ധരിച്ച്, അഷ്ട സൗമ്യലക്ഷണങ്ങളാൽ യുക്തനും ലക്ഷ്മീസമ്പന്നനുമായവൻ ‘രവി’ എന്നു പറയപ്പെടുന്നു. അവന്റെ ദേഹം ചതുരസ്രം, കണ്ണുകൾ പിംഗളം, പിത്തപ്രകൃതി, മുടി വിരളം.

Word by Word

• तिलकृत्: one who makes/has a tilaka
• तिलकृत्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तिलकृत् (प्रातिपदिक) < तिलक + कृत् (कृ धातु-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण—‘तिलकं करोति’ इति (agent-noun)

• मसकृत्: one who makes/has a mark/spot (masa)
• मसकृत्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मसकृत् (प्रातिपदिक) < मस + कृत् (कृ धातु-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘मसं करोति’ इति

• अष्टसौम्यैः: with eight auspicious (marks/qualities)
• अष्टसौम्यैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टसौम्य (प्रातिपदिक) < अष्ट + सौम्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण/सहयोगार्थे—‘अष्टौ सौम्याः’ (eight auspicious qualities/marks)

• युक्तः: endowed/connected
• युक्तः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (युज् धातु, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतभावे—‘joined/endowed’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• लक्ष्मवान्: fortunate, possessing prosperity
• लक्ष्मवान्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्ष्मवत् (प्रातिपदिक) < लक्ष्मी + वत्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वत्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण—‘लक्ष्मी यस्य अस्ति’

• चतुरस्रः: four-sided, square
• चतुरस्रः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुरस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• पिङ्गदृक्: having tawny/brown eyes
• पिङ्गदृक्: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिङ्गदृश् (प्रातिपदिक) < पिङ्ग + दृश्
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘पिङ्गा दृक् यस्य’ (irregular stem दृक्)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पैत्तिकः: bilious, of pitta nature
• पैत्तिकः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पैत्तिक (प्रातिपदिक) < पित्त + इक
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण—पित्त-प्रधान (bilious)

• अल्पकचः: having scanty hair
• अल्पकचः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अल्पकच (प्रातिपदिक) < अल्प + कच
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘अल्पाः कचाः यस्य’

• रविः: the Sun (Ravi)
• रविः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद (subject)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ravi (Surya)
• Lakshmi

FAQs

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

It frames external marks and bodily constitution as indicators of past merit and present fortune (Lakṣmī), encouraging a dharmic life that supports higher aims like mokṣa.

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

Indirectly: prosperity and auspiciousness are presented as supports for righteous living; in the Narada Purana’s broader teaching, such supports are best used to sustain worship, charity, and steady Vishnu-bhakti rather than mere enjoyment.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Applied lakṣaṇa-śāstra (Samudrika/physiognomy) aligned with Jyotiṣa-style typology—classifying a ‘Ravi’ (solar) nature through observable traits like eyes, build, hair, and doṣa (pitta).