Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 100

Mantra-Māhātmya and Sādhana of Kārtavīryārjuna

Nyāsa, Yantra, Homa, and Dīpa-Vrata

Devanagari script

कृष्णा शत्रुभयोत्पत्त्ये वमंती पशुनाशिनी । कृते दीपे यदा पात्रं भग्नं दृश्यते दैवतः ॥ १०० ॥

Transliteration

kṛṣṇā śatrubhayotpattye vamaṃtī paśunāśinī | kṛte dīpe yadā pātraṃ bhagnaṃ dṛśyate daivataḥ || 100 ||

Translation

കൃഷ്ണ (ഇരുണ്ട) നിമിത്തം ശത്രുക്കളാൽ ഭയം ഉദിക്കുന്നതിന്റെ സൂചന. ഛർദ്ദി വരുന്നത് പശുനാശത്തിന്റെ ലക്ഷണം. അതുപോലെ ദീപം തെളിച്ചതിന് ശേഷം അതിന്റെ പാത്രം ദൈവവശാൽ പൊട്ടിയതായി കാണുകയാണെങ്കിൽ അതും അശുഭനിമിത്തം.

Word by Word

• कृष्णा: black/dark
• कृष्णा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘black/dark’ (qualifying ज्वाला understood)

• शत्रुभयोत्पत्त्यै: for the arising of fear of enemies
• शत्रुभयोत्पत्त्यै: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्पत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; compound ‘for the arising of enemy-fear’

• वमन्ती: emitting (as if vomiting)
• वमन्ती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वम् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Feminine, Nominative Singular; ‘vomiting/emitting’

• पशुनाशिनी: destroyer of animals
• पशुनाशिनी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक) + नाशिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative Singular; ‘destroying cattle/animals’

• कृते: when made/when done
• कृते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative setting)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular, Neuter/Masculine; used as locative absolute with दीपे: ‘when made/when (it is) done’

• दीपे: in the lamp
• दीपे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• यदा: when
• यदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Temporal link)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb/conjunction (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• पात्रम्: the vessel/container
• पात्रम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• भग्नम्: broken
• भग्नम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भञ्ज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Neuter, Nominative Singular; qualifies पात्रम्

• दृश्यते: is seen/appears
• दृश्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada; passive/intransitive sense ‘is seen/appears’

• दैवतः: by fate/through divine agency
• दैवतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Ablative used adverbially (तसिल्-अर्थे/हेतौ), ‘by fate/from divine cause’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on nimitta/śakuna-lakṣaṇas)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It frames everyday occurrences (color-signs, bodily reactions, and ritual-lamp mishaps) as nimittas—signals prompting vigilance, prayer, and corrective rites rather than panic.

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

By treating misfortune as daiva (divinely governed), the verse encourages a devotee to respond with remembrance of the Lord, protective worship, and steadiness instead of fear-driven actions.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Nimitta/śakuna-lakṣaṇa (applied omenology allied to Jyotiṣa practice): interpreting signs such as lamp-vessel breakage during ritual, and linking specific observations to likely outcomes.