Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 187

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

Devanagari script

इत्येतद्गणितो किंचित्प्रोक्तं संक्षेपतो द्विज । जातकं वाच्मि समयाद्राशिसंज्ञापुरःसरम् ॥ १८७ ॥

Transliteration

ityetadgaṇito kiṃcitproktaṃ saṃkṣepato dvija | jātakaṃ vācmi samayādrāśisaṃjñāpuraḥsaram || 187 ||

Translation

So habe ich, o Zweimalgeborener, kurz ein Weniges von dieser rechnerischen Berechnung dargelegt. Nun werde ich, der rechten Ordnung folgend und beginnend mit den Bezeichnungen der Rāśis (Tierkreiszeichen), das Jātaka, die Geburtsastrologie, erläutern.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: वाक्यसमाप्ति/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-निपात (quotative particle) — thus

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्म (Karma/कर्मन्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — this

• गणितः: calculated
• गणितः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गणित (प्रातिपदिक; √गण् क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘computed’ (predicate/qualifier)

• किंचित्: a little
• किंचित्: परिमाण (Measure/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किंचित् (सर्वनाम/अव्ययप्राय)
• Form: अव्यय (indefinite adverb) — ‘a little/somewhat’

• प्रोक्तम्: taught
• प्रोक्तम्: विधेय/प्रेडिकेट (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — spoken/taught

• संक्षेपतः: briefly
• संक्षेपतः: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: संक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) — ‘briefly/in summary’

• द्विज: O brāhmaṇa
• द्विज: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन — O twice-born

• जातकम्: (the) nativity (horoscope)
• जातकम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्मन्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जातक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Accusative singular

• वाच्मि: I will speak
• वाच्मि: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person/उत्तम), एकवचन — I speak

• समयात्: from the time (proper moment)
• समयात्: अपादान (Apādāna/अपादानम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन — Ablative singular

• राशि-संज्ञा-पुरःसरम्: preceded by the rāśi-names
• राशि-संज्ञा-पुरःसरम्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राशि (प्रातिपदिक) + संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरःसर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमास — ‘preceded by the designation of rāśis’

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It frames Jyotiṣa as an ordered śāstric discipline—moving from gaṇita (calculation) to jātaka (application)—implying that right knowledge proceeds step-by-step and should be taught systematically.

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing disciplined learning and proper sequence, it supports the broader Purāṇic ideal that one should align life’s actions with dharma—an attitude that steadies the mind for Viṣṇu-bhakti even when studying technical sciences.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa: it signals a shift from mathematical astronomy/astrological computation (gaṇita) to natal horoscopy (jātaka), beginning with rāśi-saṃjñā (the technical nomenclature of zodiacal signs).