Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

मिथोघ्नाति भजेत्स्वाक्षेशैर्द्रोणादिमितिर्भवेत् । विस्ताराद्यं गुलान्येवं मिथोघ्नान्यपसांभवेत् ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

mithoghnāti bhajetsvākṣeśairdroṇādimitirbhavet | vistārādyaṃ gulānyevaṃ mithoghnānyapasāṃbhavet || 55 ||

Translation

‘মিথোঘ্না’ নামক পরিমাপকে নিজের অঙ্গুলি-মান দিয়ে ভাগ করলে দ্ৰোণাদি মানক মাপ পাওয়া যায়। তদ্রূপ প্রস্থ ইত্যাদি রৈখিক মাপ থেকেও এমন অনুপাতিক ভাগে ‘গুলা’ প্রভৃতি উপ-মাপ উৎপন্ন হয়।

Word by Word

• मिथः: mutually
• मिथः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मिथस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb meaning 'mutually/one another'

• घ्नाति: strikes/cancels
• घ्नाति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; from √हन् 'to strike/kill' (here: 'to cancel/strike off')

• भजेत्: should divide
• भजेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भज् (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular; 'should divide'

• स्व-अक्ष-ईशैः: by one’s own eyes (i.e., by observation)
• स्व-अक्ष-ईशैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; तत्पुरुष: 'lords of (their) eyes' i.e., 'by one’s own eyes' (idiomatic)

• द्रोण-आदि-मितिः: the droṇa etc. measure
• द्रोण-आदि-मितिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रोण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + मिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'measure beginning with droṇa'

• भवेत्: would be/should be
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• विस्तार-आद्यम्: (that) beginning with breadth
• विस्तार-आद्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्तार (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; 'beginning with breadth' (as a set)

• गुलानि: gulas (units)
• गुलानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Plural; unit-name 'gula' (measure)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb 'thus/in this way'

• मिथः: mutually
• मिथः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मिथस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb 'mutually'

• घ्नानि: canceling/offsetting
• घ्नानि: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घ्न (कृदन्त; √हन् धातु)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural; present participial/agentive derivative 'striking/canceling' used adjectivally with implied 'मानानि' (measures)

• अपसाम्: of water
• अपसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; 'of waters'

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical/dharma-measurement context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that dharma and ritual action must be performed with precision—standardized measures (for liquids and quantities) protect the correctness of offerings and disciplined practice.

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

Indirectly: bhakti in the Purāṇic tradition is supported by correct pūjā and offerings; accurate measurement reflects sincerity and care in service, preventing negligence in devotional rites.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A practical, śāstra-based system of metrology used in ritual and dharma contexts—deriving larger and smaller units (e.g., droṇa, gulā) through proportional division using aṅgula as a reference.