Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

कनका किनवा विद्या विविधा च प्रकीर्तिता । मेषा वृषाह्वया चैव मिथुना कर्कटा तथा ॥ ८८ ॥

Transliteration

kanakā kinavā vidyā vividhā ca prakīrtitā | meṣā vṛṣāhvayā caiva mithunā karkaṭā tathā || 88 ||

Translation

ഈ ജ്യോതിഷവിദ്യ പല രൂപങ്ങളിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധമാണ്—‘കനകാ’ അല്ലെങ്കിൽ ‘കിനവാ’ എന്ന നാമഭേദങ്ങളാൽ, വിവിധ ജ്ഞാനരൂപമായി; കൂടാതെ മേഷം, വൃഷഭം, മിഥുനം, കർക്കടകം എന്നീ രാശികളും എണ്ണപ്പെടുന്നു।

Word by Word

• कनका: Kanakā (name)
• कनका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• किनवा: or else / alternatively
• किनवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् + वा (अव्यय-समुच्चय/विकल्प)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (alternative particle: “or else/alternatively”)

• विद्या: Vidyā (knowledge; name)
• विद्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विविधा: various / manifold
• विविधा: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) — विद्या/कनका इत्यादि-सम्बद्ध

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction “and”)

• प्रकीर्तिता: is proclaimed / is described
• प्रकीर्तिता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु) → प्रकीर्तित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थ (denoting “is proclaimed/has been described”)

• मेषा: Meṣā (Aries; name)
• मेषा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वृषाह्वया: Vṛṣāhvayā (Taurus; “bull-named”)
• वृषाह्वया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष + आह्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वृषस्य आह्वया = “named Bull”); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• एव: indeed / just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle “indeed/just”)

• मिथुना: Mithunā (Gemini; name)
• मिथुना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिथुना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्कटा: Karkaṭā (Cancer; name)
• कर्कटा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्कटा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: thus / likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक (adverb/conj. “thus/and also”)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It frames Jyotiṣa as a legitimate śāstric vidyā taught in multiple lineages/forms, situating zodiacal knowledge within the broader Vedic-technical tradition rather than as mere fortune-telling.

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

Indirectly: by acknowledging Jyotiṣa as an auxiliary science, it supports orderly dharmic living (timing, discipline, duties), which in the Purāṇic worldview becomes supportive to steady Vishnu-bhakti rather than replacing it.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology): the practical identification of rāśis (zodiac signs) beginning with Meṣa, Vṛṣa, Mithuna, and Karkaṭa, and the recognition that such teachings may exist in multiple named traditions.