Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 98

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

Devanagari script

अनिष्टदो धूमकेतुः शक्रचापसमप्रभः । द्वित्रिचतुःशूलरूपः स च राज्यांतकृन्मतः ॥ ९८ ॥

Transliteration

aniṣṭado dhūmaketuḥ śakracāpasamaprabhaḥ | dvitricatuḥśūlarūpaḥ sa ca rājyāṃtakṛnmataḥ || 98 ||

Translation

अनिष्ट देणारा धूमकेतू, शक्रचापासारखी प्रभा असलेला, आणि दोन-तीन-चार शूलांसारखा दिसणारा—तो राज्याचा अंत करणारा संकेत मानला आहे.

Word by Word

• अनिष्टदः: giving misfortune
• अनिष्टदः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिष्ट + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: 'अनिष्टं ददाति'

• धूमकेतुः: smoke-comet
• धूमकेतुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूम + केतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: 'धूमः केतुः'

• शक्रचापसमप्रभः: having radiance like Indra's rainbow
• शक्रचापसमप्रभः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्र + चाप + सम + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'शक्रचापेन समा प्रभा यस्य' (having brightness like Indra's bow)

• द्वित्रिचतुःशूलरूपः: having the form of two/three/four spears
• द्वित्रिचतुःशूलरूपः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि + त्रि + चतुः + शूल + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numeral compound): 'द्वि/त्रि/चतुः-शूल-रूपः' (having form of 2/3/4 spears)

• सः: he/that (comet)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• राज्यांतकृत्: bringing the end of kingdoms
• राज्यांतकृत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राज्य + अन्त + कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय: क्विप्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'राज्यान्तं करोति' (bringing an end to kingdoms)

• मतः: is considered (to be)
• मतः: Kriyā-samānādhikaraṇa (क्रिया-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत (प्रातिपदिक; √मन्/मन्-धातु से क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/क्तवत्-भाव), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'इति मतः' = considered/held to be

Speaker

Narada (teaching within a Sanatkumara–Narada dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Shakra (Indra)

FAQs

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

It frames celestial phenomena as nimittas (portents) that reflect collective karma and dharma in a realm—warning rulers to restore righteousness and undertake remedial, dharmic action rather than ignore signs.

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

Indirectly: by highlighting impermanence of political power, it nudges the listener toward refuge in the eternal—Vishnu-bhakti and dharma—rather than reliance on unstable worldly sovereignty.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology): classification of a dhūmaketu by appearance (rainbow-like brilliance; multi-pronged ‘śūla’ form) and the predictive result—political calamity or the termination of a kingdom.