Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 88

The Account of the Lalitā Hymn, the Protective Armor

Kavaca), and the Thousand Names (Sahasranāma

Devanagari script

कनका किनवा विद्या विविधा च प्रकीर्तिता । मेषा वृषाह्वया चैव मिथुना कर्कटा तथा ॥ ८८ ॥

Transliteration

kanakā kinavā vidyā vividhā ca prakīrtitā | meṣā vṛṣāhvayā caiva mithunā karkaṭā tathā || 88 ||

Translation

یہ علمِ نجوم کئی صورتوں میں بیان ہوا ہے—‘کنکا’ یا ‘کنوا’ وغیرہ ناموں کے ساتھ، متنوع معرفت کی صورت میں؛ اور اس میں مَیش، وِرشبھ، مِتھُن اور کَرکٹ کی بروج بھی شمار کیے گئے ہیں۔

Word by Word

• कनका: Kanakā (name)
• कनका: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• किनवा: or else / alternatively
• किनवा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् + वा (अव्यय-समुच्चय/विकल्प)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपात (alternative particle: “or else/alternatively”)

• विद्या: Vidyā (knowledge; name)
• विद्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विविधा: various / manifold
• विविधा: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective) — विद्या/कनका इत्यादि-सम्बद्ध

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction “and”)

• प्रकीर्तिता: is proclaimed / is described
• प्रकीर्तिता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु) → प्रकीर्तित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थ (denoting “is proclaimed/has been described”)

• मेषा: Meṣā (Aries; name)
• मेषा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वृषाह्वया: Vṛṣāhvayā (Taurus; “bull-named”)
• वृषाह्वया: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष + आह्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वृषस्य आह्वया = “named Bull”); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

• एव: indeed / just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle “indeed/just”)

• मिथुना: Mithunā (Gemini; name)
• मिथुना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिथुना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कर्कटा: Karkaṭā (Cancer; name)
• कर्कटा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्कटा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: thus / likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक (adverb/conj. “thus/and also”)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It frames Jyotiṣa as a legitimate śāstric vidyā taught in multiple lineages/forms, situating zodiacal knowledge within the broader Vedic-technical tradition rather than as mere fortune-telling.

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

Indirectly: by acknowledging Jyotiṣa as an auxiliary science, it supports orderly dharmic living (timing, discipline, duties), which in the Purāṇic worldview becomes supportive to steady Vishnu-bhakti rather than replacing it.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astrology): the practical identification of rāśis (zodiac signs) beginning with Meṣa, Vṛṣa, Mithuna, and Karkaṭa, and the recognition that such teachings may exist in multiple named traditions.