Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 134

Jyotiṣa-śāstra Saṅgraha: Threefold Division, Gaṇita Methods, Muhūrta, and Planetary Reckoning

Devanagari script

रेखा प्राच्यपरा साध्या विषुवद्भाग्रया तथा । इष्टच्छायाविषुवतोर्मध्येह्यग्राभिधीयते ॥ १३४ ॥

Transliteration

rekhā prācyaparā sādhyā viṣuvadbhāgrayā tathā | iṣṭacchāyāviṣuvatormadhyehyagrābhidhīyate || 134 ||

Translation

يُرسَمُ خطٌّ متوجِّهٌ إلى الشرق، وكذلك خطٌّ على سمت خطِّ الاعتدال (شرق–غرب). ويُقال إن النقطة المسماة «أغرا» تقع في الوسط بين علامة الظلّ المطلوبة وعلامة ظلّ الاعتدال.

Word by Word

• रेखा: a line
• रेखा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्राच्यपरा: oriented east–west (towards the east and beyond)
• प्राच्यपरा: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राच्य + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• साध्या: to be determined/constructed
• साध्या: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण (predicative adjective)

• विषुवत्: like the equinox
• विषुवत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial relation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विषुवत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्-शब्द)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/तुल्यवाचक (comparative adverb)

• भाग्रया: by the (measuring) arc/segment (bhāgrā)
• भाग्रया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तथा: thus/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय (adverb)

• इष्ट: desired
• इष्ट: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (कृदन्त; √इष्/इच्छ् + क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/समासाङ्ग; here as compound-member

• छाया: shadow
• छाया: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (contextual), एकवचन; here as compound-member

• विषुवतोः: of the two equinoxes
• विषुवतोः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषुवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle, emphasis)

• अग्रा: the fore-line/agra (name of the line)
• अग्रा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अभिधीयते: is called/denoted
• अभिधीयते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धा (धातु) + अभि- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical-vedanga style passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It shows that dharma and moksha-oriented life in the Purana is supported by precise knowledge (vidyā): correct orientation and time-reckoning (through shadow and equinoctial markers) safeguard the accuracy of rites and disciplined living.

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

While not directly a bhakti-verse, it supports bhakti-practice indirectly: accurate determination of direction and time helps perform Vishnu-oriented worship, vrata timings, and daily observances with steadiness and correctness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa and chāyā-gaṇita (shadow-based measurement): drawing an east-oriented line, using the equinoctial (viṣuvat) reference, and defining a midpoint marker (agrā) for further calculation or alignment.