Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 185

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

Devanagari script

शूलत्रयेपि नवकं मरणाय च पंचकम् । श्रियै पुष्ट्यै त्रयं श्रेष्ठं स्याच्चक्रे लांगलाह्वये ॥ १८५ ॥

Transliteration

śūlatrayepi navakaṃ maraṇāya ca paṃcakam | śriyai puṣṭyai trayaṃ śreṣṭhaṃ syāccakre lāṃgalāhvaye || 185 ||

Translation

即便在三类三叉（śūla）之中，也规定九数之组以致死；五数之组亦可如是。然而为求室利（Śrī，福德吉祥）与补施底（Puṣṭi，滋养与力量），三数之组最为殊胜——尤在名为“犁”(Lāṅgala)之轮（cakra）中。

Word by Word

• शूलत्रये: in the tri-spike/three-pronged part
• शूलत्रये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: शूलानां त्रयम् (त्रिशूल-स्थाने/त्रय-शूल-भागे)

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

• नवकम्: a set of nine
• नवकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समूहवाचक: ‘set of nine’

• मरणाय: for death (i.e., causing/warding contextually)
• मरणाय: Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/dative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पंचकम्: a set of five
• पंचकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पंचक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समूहवाचक

• श्रियै: for prosperity/Śrī
• श्रियै: Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/dative), एकवचन

• पुष्ट्यै: for nourishment/increase
• पुष्ट्यै: Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/dative), एकवचन

• त्रयम्: a set of three
• त्रयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रय (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समूहवाचक

• श्रेष्ठम्: best
• श्रेष्ठम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• चक्रे: in the wheel/disc (formation)
• चक्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन

• लांगलाह्वये: in the one called ‘Plough’ (lāṅgala-named)
• लांगलाह्वये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लाङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक) + आह्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: लाङ्गलस्य आह्वयः (नाम)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Sri
• Pusti

FAQs

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

It distinguishes ritual applications by number and form—some combinations are linked with destructive aims (maraṇa), while others are recommended for life-supporting aims like prosperity (Śrī) and strengthening (Puṣṭi), implying that dharmic intent and correct procedure govern efficacy.

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

Indirectly: it prioritizes auspicious, sustaining outcomes (Śrī, Puṣṭi) over harmful rites, aligning practice with sattvic intention—an ethical foundation that supports devotional life even when discussing technical ritual details.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects applied ritual science—classification by number (traya/pañca/nava) and by instrument/form (śūla, cakra), a kind of procedural knowledge used in rites and diagrammatic/yantric contexts rather than grammar or astrology specifically.