Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 120

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

Devanagari script

वक्रिणश्चक्रशुद्धैस्तैरंशैरुजुतिवक्रताम् । क्रमज्या विषुवद्भाघ्नी क्षितिज्या द्वादशोद्धृता ॥ १२० ॥

Transliteration

vakriṇaścakraśuddhaistairaṃśairujutivakratām | kramajyā viṣuvadbhāghnī kṣitijyā dvādaśoddhṛtā || 120 ||

Translation

From those corrected degrees of the planet’s orbit, one should determine its deviation from straight (direct) motion into retrograde. The successive sine (kramajyā) is multiplied by the equinoctial factor, and the horizon sine (kṣitijyā) is obtained by dividing by twelve.

Word by Word

• वक्रिणः: the oblique/curved ones
• वक्रिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘वक्रिन्’ (वक्रता-युक्त)

• चक्र-शुद्धैः: by the circle-corrected (values)
• चक्र-शुद्धैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (चक्रेण/चक्रस्य शुद्धैः)

• तैः: by those
• तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• अंशैः: by parts/segments
• अंशैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• उजुति-वक्रताम्: the curvature due to straightness (correction)
• उजुति-वक्रताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उजुति (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्रता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (उजुत्या वक्रता)

• क्रम-ज्या: the stepwise chord
• क्रम-ज्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (क्रमस्य ज्या)

• विषुवत्-भा-घ्नी: destroying the equinoctial brightness (equinoctial effect)
• विषुवत्-भा-घ्नी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषुवत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिकवत्) + भा (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्नी (घ्निन्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘विषुवत्’ (समत्वेन) + ‘भा’ (दीप्ति/प्रभा) + ‘घ्नी’ (हन्त्री)

• क्षिति-ज्या: the earth-chord (horizontal chord)
• क्षिति-ज्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षिति (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (क्षितेः ज्या)

• द्वादश-उद्धृता: extracted by twelve / from twelve
• द्वादश-उद्धृता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √हृ (धातु) उद्-आ-हृ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त) ‘उद्धृत’ = extracted; तत्पुरुषः (द्वादशभिः उद्धृता/द्वादशात् उद्धृता)

Speaker

Narada (teaching technical computation in the Purana’s instructional flow)

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 frames Jyotiṣa (astronomical calculation) as a supporting sacred science—helping align ritual timing and dharma-practice with accurate knowledge of celestial motion.

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

Indirectly: by ensuring correct calendrical and astronomical determinations (tithi, graha-gati), devotees can observe vows and worship at the proper times, strengthening disciplined bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa and gaṇita: computing vakra (retrograde) deviation using corrected degrees, applying an equinoctial multiplier, and deriving kṣitijyā by a division-by-twelve rule.