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

بدشگونی لانے والا دھوم کیتو، شکرچاپ (اندر دھنش) جیسی چمک رکھتا ہو اور دو، تین یا چار نیزہ نما شاخوں کی صورت دکھے—تو اسے سلطنت کے خاتمے کی علامت مانا گیا ہے۔

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.