Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 158

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

Devanagari script

ग्रासेन स्वाहतेच्छाद्यमानामे स्युर्विशोपकाः । पूर्णांतं मध्यमत्र स्याद्दर्शांतेंजं त्रिभोनकम् ॥ १५८ ॥

Transliteration

grāsena svāhatecchādyamānāme syurviśopakāḥ | pūrṇāṃtaṃ madhyamatra syāddarśāṃteṃjaṃ tribhonakam || 158 ||

Translation

When the Moon’s portions (kalā) are covered by the Moon’s own ‘bite’ during an eclipse, they are called viśopakāḥ. In this reckoning, the ‘end of fullness’ is taken as the midpoint, and at the end of the fortnight (darśānta) the ‘unborn’ (aja) is declared to be threefold (tribhonaka).

Word by Word

• ग्रासेन: by a mouthful / by a ‘grāsa’ measure
• ग्रासेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• स्व-आहत-इच्छाद्य-मान-आमे: in the raw/initial measure (etc.) multiplied by itself (technical)
• स्व-आहत-इच्छाद्य-मान-आमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आहत (√हन्/√आहन् क्त; ‘multiplied’) + इच्छाद्य (इच्छा + आदि; प्रातिपदिक) + मान (प्रातिपदिक) + आम (प्रातिपदिक; ‘raw/uncooked’; here technical)
• Form: सप्तमी, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष; technical phrase (reading uncertain due to sandhi/orthography)

• स्युः: would be / should be
• स्युः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• विशोपकाः: viśopakas (technical entities)
• विशोपकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशोपक (प्रातिपदिक; दुर्लभ/technical)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; technical term (uncertain)

• पूर्ण-अन्तम्: ending in full / complete-end
• पूर्ण-अन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘ending in full/complete’)

• मध्यमम्: middle (value)
• मध्यमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मध्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb of place: ‘here’)

• स्यात्: would be / should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दर्श-अन्ते: at the end of the new-moon period
• दर्श-अन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्श (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘at the end of darśa/new-moon period’)

• इञ्जम्: iṅja (technical quantity)
• इञ्जम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इञ्ज (प्रातिपदिक; technical/rare)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; technical term (uncertain)

• त्रि-भ-ओनकम्: threefold-deficient (technical)
• त्रि-भ-ओनकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + भ (प्रातिपदिक; uncertain) + ओनक (प्रातिपदिक; ‘deficient’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष; ‘three-(something)-deficient’ (technical)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical dharma/observance context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Chandra (Moon)
• Darsha (new-moon/fortnight boundary)

FAQs

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

It links spiritual discipline with precise time-knowledge: understanding lunar transitions and eclipse-conditions is presented as part of dharmic order, supporting correct observance and inner steadiness.

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing correct ritual timing and clarity about lunar states, it supports orderly worship and vrata-practice, which in the Narada Purana are often framed as aids to steady Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa (astronomical/astrological reckoning): technical naming of obscuration during eclipse, and rules about ‘middle’ and ‘end’ points tied to pūrṇānta and darśānta calculations.