Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

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

Devanagari script

सनंदन उवाच । ज्योतिषांगं प्रवक्ष्यामि यदुक्तं ब्रह्मणा पुरा । यस्य विज्ञान मात्रेण धर्मसिद्धिर्भवेन्नृणाम् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

sanaṃdana uvāca | jyotiṣāṃgaṃ pravakṣyāmi yaduktaṃ brahmaṇā purā | yasya vijñāna mātreṇa dharmasiddhirbhavennṛṇām || 1 ||

Translation

Sanandana sprach: Ich werde das Wissensglied namens Jyotiṣa darlegen, wie es einst von Brahmā gelehrt wurde; durch bloßes Verstehen davon erlangen die Menschen Vollendung im Dharma.

Word by Word

• सनन्दनः: Sanandana
• सनन्दनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ज्योतिष-अङ्गम्: the limb/section of Jyotiṣa (astral science)
• ज्योतिष-अङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिष + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ज्योतिषः अङ्गम्)

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall expound
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्/Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यत्: which
• यत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• उक्तम्: said; taught
• उक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly; long ago
• पुरा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• यस्य: of which; whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक

• विज्ञान-मात्रेण: by mere understanding/knowledge
• विज्ञान-मात्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विज्ञान + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विज्ञानस्य मात्रेण = by mere knowledge)

• धर्म-सिद्धिः: attainment of dharma
• धर्म-सिद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य सिद्धिः)

• भवेत्: would occur; would be
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नृणाम्: of men; of people
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanandana

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Characters & Entities

• Sanandana
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It frames Jyotiṣa (the Vedāṅga of sacred time) as a dharma-supporting knowledge: understanding proper timings and cycles helps one perform duties in alignment with ṛta (cosmic order), leading to dharma-siddhi.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports devotional practice by emphasizing right time and order—essential for vrata, pūjā, and observances that strengthen steady devotion and disciplined worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa Vedāṅga—practical calendrical/astral computation used to determine auspicious times (muhūrta), tithi, nakṣatra, and proper scheduling for rituals, vows, and dharmic duties.