Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

विपरीतो गुरुर्याम्ये मध्ये चरति मध्यमम् । पीताग्निश्यामहरितरक्तवणेगिराः क्रमात् ॥ ५७ ॥

Transliteration

viparīto gururyāmye madhye carati madhyamam | pītāgniśyāmaharitaraktavaṇegirāḥ kramāt || 57 ||

Translation

గురు (బృహస్పతి) వక్రగతిలో ఉన్నప్పుడు దక్షిణ ప్రాంతములో మధ్యమ వేగంతో సంచరిస్తాడు. క్రమంగా అతని వర్ణప్రభలు పీత, అగ్నివర్ణ, శ్యామ, హరిత, రక్తంగా దర్శనమిస్తాయి.

Word by Word

• विपरीतः: reversed/contrary
• विपरीतः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपरीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (गुरुः)

• गुरुः: Jupiter (Guru)
• गुरुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• याम्ये: in the southern
• याम्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: याम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (मध्ये)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• चरति: moves
• चरति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• मध्यमम्: the middle (region/state)
• मध्यमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; गत्यर्थक-क्रियायाः कर्म

• पीत: yellow
• पीत: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण-पूर्वपद (समासाङ्ग); वर्णवाचक

• अग्नि: fire
• अग्नि: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• श्याम: dark/blackish
• श्याम: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्याम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• हरित: green
• हरित: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• रक्त: red
• रक्त: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• वणेगिराः: voices/sounds of merchants
• वणेगिराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वणि + गिरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वणिनां गिराः)

• क्रमात्: in order/gradually
• क्रमात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Jyotisha/Vedanga-style description)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Guru (Brihaspati/Jupiter)
• Yama (implied by yāmya—southern direction)

FAQs

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

It frames celestial order as a knowable śāstric pattern: even retrograde motion follows rule-bound gati (movement) and varṇa (appearance), encouraging a dharmic view that the cosmos is intelligible and governed—supporting disciplined living toward mokṣa.

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

Indirectly: by presenting the heavens as orderly and meaningful, it supports the bhakta’s trust (śraddhā) in Īśvara’s governance; such trust strengthens steady practice—japa, vrata, and worship—performed with confidence in right timing and right conduct.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa: identifying Guru’s vakra-gati (retrograde behavior), directional/sectoral movement, and observational markers like color/rays—used traditionally for omens, calendrical considerations, and contextual assessment in ritual timing.