Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 157
Jyotiṣa-saṅgraha: Varga-vibhāga, Bala-nirṇaya, Garbha-phala, Āyuḥ-gaṇanā
कवेर्द्ध्याषष्टमोध्याये सन्ज्ञोमंदान्सधीत्रये । साक्षास्ते भूमिजाज्जीवाद्ययारिभवमृत्युगः ॥ १५७ ॥
kaverddhyāṣaṣṭamodhyāye sanjñomaṃdānsadhītraye | sākṣāste bhūmijājjīvādyayāribhavamṛtyugaḥ || 157 ||
Sa ika-animnapu’t dalawang kabanata ni Kavi, ang diyos na tinatawag na Manda—kasama si Dhī (talino) at ang tatluhan—ay tuwirang inilalarawan bilang isinilang sa Daigdig, gumagala sa gitna ng mga nilalang mula kapanganakan hanggang kamatayan, at bilang kaaway na nagdadala ng pagbulusok.
Narada (in a teaching/dialogue context attributed to Narada’s exposition to the Sanatkumara tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
FAQs
The verse frames Manda (Shani) as a force experienced within saṃsāra—operating from birth to death—thereby reminding the seeker that karmic pressures and delays are part of embodied life and should be met with steadiness and vairāgya (detachment).
By portraying worldly afflictions as moving within bhava-mṛtyu, it implicitly points the devotee toward refuge in the Lord beyond saṃsāra—strengthening bhakti as a response to fear, delay, and adversity attributed to karmic time.
It reflects Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa (Vedic astrology) terminology—Manda (Saturn), birth-from-Bhūmi, and the graha’s movement/effects—used to interpret karmic patterns and encourage disciplined, dharmic living.