Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

ऊनेन चापि गुणयेद्धनर्णं चिंतयेत्तथा । कार्यस्तुल्यहरां शानां योगश्चाप्यंततो मुने ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

ūnena cāpi guṇayeddhanarṇaṃ ciṃtayettathā | kāryastulyaharāṃ śānāṃ yogaścāpyaṃtato mune || 24 ||

Translation

Auch wenn eine Menge zu gering ist, soll man ihr Ergebnis durch Multiplikation berechnen und ebenso den verbleibenden Saldo oder die Schuld sorgfältig bedenken. Man gleiche auch Teiler und Anteile einander an; und schließlich, o Weiser, vollziehe die abschließende Addition, um die Endsumme zu erlangen.

Word by Word

• ūnena: by the lesser (quantity)
• ūnena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka/Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); comparative sense 'by the lesser/deficient (number)'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) expressing 'also/even'

• guṇayet: should multiply
• guṇayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: guṇ (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); causative/denominative sense 'should multiply'

• dhana-ṛṇam: wealth-and-debt (the quantities)
• dhana-ṛṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); द्वन्द्व समास (itaretara) meaning 'wealth and debt' as a pair

• ciṃtayet: should consider
• ciṃtayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: cint (धातु)
• Form: Optative/विधिलिङ्, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular; 'should consider/compute'

• tathā: thus/in that manner
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण अव्यय)

• kāryaḥ: should be done
• kāryaḥ: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेयविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (कृदन्त; √kṛ)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; gerundive (तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्यय) meaning 'to be done/should be made'

• tulya-harāṇām: of equal denominators
• tulya-harāṇām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tulya (प्रातिपदिक) + hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष (कर्मधारय-प्राय) 'equal denominators'

• śānām: (uncertain word; genitive plural)
• śānām: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śā (प्रातिपदिक; uncertain reading)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; text appears corrupt/uncertain; likely intended 'śeṣāṇām/saṃkhyānām' etc.

• yogaḥ: addition/sum
• yogaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• antataḥ: finally
• antataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: antataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning 'finally/at the end'

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes disciplined discernment (viveka) even in practical matters—careful reckoning of deficiency, balance, and final totals mirrors the Dharma ideal of accuracy, accountability, and clarity of mind.

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

Indirectly, it supports Bhakti by valuing order and correctness: just as calculations must be completed properly, devotional life also requires steady, methodical practice and honest self-assessment before offering one’s actions to Vishnu.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A Ganita-style procedural rule: handle deficient quantities through multiplication, assess credit/debt (balance), equalize divisors/fractions, and conclude with addition—showing a technical, stepwise method of computation.