Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 176

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

Devanagari script

भास्करेंद्वो र्भचक्रांत चक्रार्द्धावधिसंस्थयोः । दृक्कल्पसाधितांशादियुक्तयोः स्वावपक्रमौ ॥ १७६ ॥

Transliteration

bhāskareṃdvo rbhacakrāṃta cakrārddhāvadhisaṃsthayoḥ | dṛkkalpasādhitāṃśādiyuktayoḥ svāvapakramau || 176 ||

Translation

وأمّا الشمسُ والقمرُ—إذا استقرّا عند نهاية دائرة البروج أو عند حدّ نصف الدائرة—فينبغي تعيين أپكرما كلٍّ منهما (الميل/الانحراف) بتطبيق الدرجات وما يتبعها من القيم المحسوبة وفق دْرِكّكلپا (الطريقة الرصدية).

Word by Word

• bhāskara-indvoḥ: of the Sun and the Moon
• bhāskara-indvoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāskara (प्रातिपदिक) + indu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-द्विवचन; ‘of the Sun and the Moon’

• bha-cakra-anta: the end of the stellar/zodiacal wheel
• bha-cakra-anta: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bha (प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (contextual technical term); ‘end/limit of the nakṣatra-wheel’

• cakra-arddha-avadhि-saṃsthayoḥ: in/for the two situated at the half-wheel boundary
• cakra-arddha-avadhि-saṃsthayoḥ: Adhikaraṇa/Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (अधिकरण/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक) + ardha (प्रातिपदिक) + avadhi (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃstha (कृदन्त; √sthā स्थितौ)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-द्विवचन/षष्ठी-द्विवचन (context suggests locative dual: ‘in the two situated at the half-wheel limit’); saṃstha = ‘situated’ (क्त)

• dṛk-kalpa-sādhita-aṃśa-ādi-yuktayoḥ: of the two provided with parts etc. computed by dṛk-kalpa
• dṛk-kalpa-sādhita-aṃśa-ādi-yuktayoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛk (प्रातिपदिक) + kalpa (प्रातिपदिक) + sādhita (कृदन्त; √sādh साधने) + aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (कृदन्त; √yuj योजने)
• Form: षष्ठी-द्विवचन; ‘of the two furnished with etc. (ādi) parts (aṃśa) computed (sādhita) by dṛk-kalpa’

• sva-avapakramau: their respective apakrama (offset/declination)
• sva-avapakramau: Karta/Viśeṣya (कर्ता/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + apakrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-द्विवचन; ‘their own apakrama (declination/offset)’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within the Moksha-Dharma teaching that includes Vedanga/astronomical aids)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Surya (Bhaskara)
• Chandra (Indu)

FAQs

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

It highlights that accurate knowledge (yathārtha-jñāna)—even in technical fields like Jyotiṣa—supports dharma and right timing for sacred acts, which in turn steadies the mind for mokṣa-oriented practice.

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

Indirectly: by stressing precise reckoning of the Sun and Moon, it supports correct observance of vrata, tithi, and festival timings—frameworks within which Viṣṇu-bhakti and other devotional disciplines are traditionally practiced.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa—specifically, computing the Sun’s and Moon’s apakrama (declination) using drik-based (observational) calculations in degrees (aṃśa) and related measures.