Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

उदयास्तमये काले विद्युदुल्काशनिर्यदि । तदा नृपवधो ज्ञेयस्त्वथवा राजविग्रहः ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

udayāstamaye kāle vidyudulkāśaniryadi | tadā nṛpavadho jñeyastvathavā rājavigrahaḥ || 15 ||

Translation

സൂര്യോദയമോ അസ്തമയമോ ആയ സമയത്ത് മിന്നൽ, ഉല്ക, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ വജ്രപാതം കണ്ടാൽ അത് രാജാവിന്റെ മരണനിമിത്തം എന്നു അറിയണം—അല്ലെങ്കിൽ രാജാക്കന്മാർ തമ്മിലുള്ള കലഹവും വൈരവും സൂചിപ്പിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• उदय-अस्तमये: at sunrise/sunset
• उदय-अस्तमये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदय (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्तमय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (समाहार-द्वन्द्व) — ‘उदयश्च अस्तमयश्च’ (at sunrise and sunset time)

• काले: at the time
• काले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• विद्युत्-उल्का-आशनि: lightning/meteor/thunderbolt (phenomena)
• विद्युत्-उल्का-आशनि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्युत् (प्रातिपदिक) + उल्का (प्रातिपदिक) + आशनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (समाहार) — ‘विद्युत् च उल्का च आशनि च’ (lightning/meteor/thunderbolt)

• यदि: if
• यदि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्त-सम्बन्धी अव्यय (conditional particle)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक/तत्-सम्बन्धी (then)

• नृप-वधः: death of a king
• नृप-वधः: Karta (कर्ता/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘नृपस्य वधः’ (killing of a king)

• ज्ञेयः: should be understood (as)
• ज्ञेयः: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय; भाव्य/कर्तव्य)
• Form: यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/नीयत्-अर्थ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘ज्ञेयः’ = ‘to be known/should be understood’

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• अथवा: or else
• अथवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथवा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive)

• राज-विग्रहः: royal conflict/war
• राज-विग्रहः: Karta (कर्ता/फल)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज (प्रातिपदिक) + विग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘राज्ञां विग्रहः’ (conflict among kings / royal war)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

FAQs

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

It teaches nimitta-jñāna (knowledge of omens) as a dharmic tool: sudden celestial disturbances at liminal times (sunrise/sunset) warn of impending collective karma manifesting as political calamity, urging vigilance and righteous governance.

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

While not directly prescribing bhakti, it supports a bhakti-grounded ethic: when ominous signs appear, a ruler should turn toward dharma—protecting subjects, restraining adharma, and seeking divine refuge—rather than acting from fear or arrogance.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology) and nimitta-śāstra: interpreting lightning/meteors specifically occurring at sunrise or sunset as indicators of nṛpa-vadha (royal death) or rāja-vigraha (inter-royal conflict).