Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 180

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

Devanagari script

समृगेज्येषु बालानां कर्णवेधक्रिया हिता । दस्रेन्द्वदितितिष्येषु करादित्रितये तथा ॥ १८० ॥

Transliteration

samṛgejyeṣu bālānāṃ karṇavedhakriyā hitā | dasrendvadititiṣyeṣu karāditritaye tathā || 180 ||

Translation

കുട്ടികൾക്കുള്ള കർണവേധസംസ്കാരം മൃഗശീർഷവും ജ്യേഷ്ഠയും നക്ഷത്രങ്ങളിൽ ഹിതകരം. ധനിഷ്ഠ, ശ്രവണ, അദിതി (പുനർവസു), തിഷ്യ (പുഷ്യ) നക്ഷത്രങ്ങളിലും, ഹസ്തയിൽ ആരംഭിക്കുന്ന മൂന്ന് തിഥികളിലും ചെയ്യുന്നത് ശ്രേയസ്കരം എന്നു പറയുന്നു।

Word by Word

• sa-mṛga-ejyeṣu: in the (asterisms) Sa, Mṛga, and Ejya
• sa-mṛga-ejyeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + ejya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘in (the nakṣatras) Sa, Mṛga, Ejya’ (list-like)

• bālānām: of children
• bālānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• karṇa-vedha-kriyā: the ear-piercing ceremony
• karṇa-vedha-kriyā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vedha (प्रातिपदिक) + kriyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘the act (kriyā) of piercing (vedha) the ear (karṇa)’

• hitā: beneficial / recommended
• hitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक; √dhā with hi- prefix, PPP)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP) used adjectivally

• dasra-indu-aditi-tiṣyeṣu: in Dasra, Indu, Aditi, and Tiṣya (asterisms)
• dasra-indu-aditi-tiṣyeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dasra (प्रातिपदिक) + indu (प्रातिपदिक) + aditi (प्रातिपदिक) + tiṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘in (the nakṣatras) Dasra, Indu, Aditi, Tiṣya’ (list-like)

• kara-ādi-tritaye: in the triad starting with Kara
• kara-ādi-tritaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kara (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + tritaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ‘in the triad beginning with Kara’

• tathā: likewise / also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It frames karṇavedha as a dharmic saṁskāra whose effectiveness and well-being are supported by choosing auspicious nakṣatras and suitable lunar timing, aligning personal rites with cosmic order (ṛta).

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

While not directly a bhakti verse, it supports bhakti-oriented life by prescribing disciplined saṁskāras; orderly dharma and purified life-stages are presented as supportive foundations for worship and spiritual practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology) is highlighted through nakṣatra-based muhurta selection and the mention of a tithi triad (three lunar days) for performing the karṇavedha rite.