Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 101

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

Devanagari script

संख्यातत्त्वाश्विसंवर्ग्यसंयोज्यं धनुरुच्यते । रवेर्मंदपरिध्यंशा मनवः शीतगोरदाः ॥ १०१ ॥

Transliteration

saṃkhyātattvāśvisaṃvargyasaṃyojyaṃ dhanurucyate | ravermaṃdaparidhyaṃśā manavaḥ śītagoradāḥ || 101 ||

Translation

When the enumerated principles (tattvas) are gathered and joined, that aggregate is called a Dhanus, a unit in cosmic reckoning. The Manus are said to be portions of the Sun’s slow circuit, and they bestow coolness and cattle—prosperity and the sustaining order of the world.

Word by Word

• संख्या-तत्त्व-अश्वि-संवर्ग्य-संयोज्यम्: to be combined after grouping the counted principles and ‘aśvi’ units
• संख्या-तत्त्व-अश्वि-संवर्ग्य-संयोज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संख्या (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्वि (प्रातिपदिक) + संवर्ग्य (कृदन्त) + संयोज्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कृदन्त—संवर्ग्य (णिच्/ल्यप्-भाव, √वृज्/वर्ग् ‘to group’, ‘having grouped’), संयोज्य (यत्/तव्यत्, √युज् ‘to join’, ‘to be combined’); समस्तपदम् विशेषणम्

• धनुः: the bow (arc)
• धनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उच्यते: is called/said
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम् (passive sense)

• रवेः: of the Sun
• रवेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• मन्द-परिधि-अंशाः: parts of the slow circumference
• मन्द-परिधि-अंशाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + परिधि (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘मन्दस्य परिध्यंशाः’ = parts of the slow (orbit) circumference (textual form paridhyaṃśā < परिधि-अंशाः)

• मनवः: Manus
• मनवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• शीत-गो-रदाः: those having ‘cold’ cows/teeth (epithet; uncertain)
• शीत-गो-रदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीत (प्रातिपदिक) + गो (प्रातिपदिक) + रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘शीताः गावः रदाः (दन्ताः) येषां ते’ / or ‘having cold rays/teeth’ (epithet; reading uncertain)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Surya (Ravi)
• Manu

FAQs

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

It frames cosmic time and governance (Manus/Manvantaras) as an ordered, measurable system, encouraging a moksha-oriented view that the universe runs by dharma-bound cycles rather than randomness.

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

Indirectly: by showing the Sun’s ordained cycles and the Manus’ sustaining role, it supports bhakti as trust in divine order (niyati/dharma) that upholds the world, even when the verse itself is technical.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Vedāṅga-style technical reckoning—astronomical/astrological time-division and cosmological measures—linking solar motion (ravi-paridhi) with larger eras (Manu/manvantara).