Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 168

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

Devanagari script

वारप्रोक्ते कर्मकार्ये तद्ग्रहस्य क्षणेऽपि सन् । नक्षत्रेशाः क्रमाद्दस्रयमवह्निपितामहाः ॥ १६८ ॥

Transliteration

vāraprokte karmakārye tadgrahasya kṣaṇe'pi san | nakṣatreśāḥ kramāddasrayamavahnipitāmahāḥ || 168 ||

Translation

ଯେ କର୍ମ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦିଷ୍ଟ ବାରରେ କରିବାକୁ କୁହାଯାଏ, ସେହି ବାର-ଗ୍ରହ କ୍ଷଣମାତ୍ର ଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ, ନକ୍ଷତ୍ରାଧିପତିମାନେ କ୍ରମେ ଦସ୍ର (ଅଶ୍ୱିନୀଦ୍ୱୟ), ଯମ, ଅଗ୍ନି ଓ ପିତାମହ (ବ୍ରହ୍ମା) ବୋଲି ସ୍ମୃତ।

Word by Word

• वार-प्रोक्ते: in (a matter) stated by the weekday
• वार-प्रोक्ते: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वार (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रोक्त (कृदन्त; √वच्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; ‘वारेण प्रोक्ते/वारसम्बन्धेन प्रोक्ते’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative qualifying ‘in the (matter) stated by weekday’

• कर्म-कार्ये: in the work/action to be done
• कर्म-कार्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative ‘in the action to be done’

• तत्-ग्रहस्य: of that planet
• तत्-ग्रहस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; genitive ‘of that ग्रह (planet)’

• क्षणे: at the moment
• क्षणे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; locative ‘at the moment’

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; particle ‘also/even’

• सन्: being
• सन्: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘being’

• नक्षत्र-ईशाः: the lords of the nakṣatras
• नक्षत्र-ईशाः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नक्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘lords of the nakṣatras’

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावार्थे पञ्चमी-एकवचनप्रयोगः; adverbial ablative ‘in order/ क्रमशः’

• दस्रयम्: the Dasras (Aśvins)
• दस्रयम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; accusative singular (as first in list)

• अवह्नि-पितामहाः: Avahni and Pitāmaha
• अवह्नि-पितामहाः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (समाहार/इतरेतर); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; list continuation ‘Avahni and Pitāmaha’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical-ritual context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Dasra (Ashvins)
• Yama
• Agni
• Pitamaha (Brahma)

FAQs

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

It shows that Dharma is upheld through precision in sacred timing—rites aligned with the correct weekday influence and nakṣatra governance become orderly, efficacious, and supportive of inner purification.

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

Indirectly: Bhakti is strengthened when devotional rites are performed with śāstric care; correct timing is treated as a form of reverence (sevā) toward the cosmic order established by the divine.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa—rules about weekday-based ritual performance, planetary presence even for a brief moment, and the ordered identification of nakṣatra-lords (e.g., Aśvins, Yama, Agni, Brahmā).