Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 159

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

Devanagari script

पृथक् तत्क्रांत्यक्षभागसंस्कृतौ स्युर्नतांशकाः । तद्दिघ्नांशकृतिद्व्यूनार्द्धार्कयुता हरिः ॥ १५९ ॥

Transliteration

pṛthak tatkrāṃtyakṣabhāgasaṃskṛtau syurnatāṃśakāḥ | taddighnāṃśakṛtidvyūnārddhārkayutā hariḥ || 159 ||

Translation

When the Sun’s krānti (declination) and the share of the akṣa (terrestrial latitude) are computed separately, the resulting quantities are called “natāṃśakas,” the parts of declination. The divisor, called harī, is obtained by taking twice the square of the degrees multiplied by that value, subtracting two, and then adding half of the solar measure used in the computation.

Word by Word

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter nom/acc sg)

• क्रान्ति-अक्ष-भाग-संस्कृतौ: in the (value) refined/processed by the share of the axis and the krānti
• क्रान्ति-अक्ष-भाग-संस्कृतौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रान्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्कृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (locative sg); समासः—तत्पुरुष (determinative)

• स्युः: would be / should be
• स्युः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (3rd pl)

• नत-अंशकाः: the ‘natāṃśa’ parts/portions
• नत-अंशकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नत (प्रातिपदिक) + अंशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (nom pl); समासः—कर्मधारय (descriptive)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दिघ्न-अंश-कृति-द्वि-ऊन-अर्द्ध-अर्क-युता: combined with (a value) involving ‘dighna’, aṃśa, kṛti, two-less, half-sun (arkārdha)
• दिघ्न-अंश-कृति-द्वि-ऊन-अर्द्ध-अर्क-युता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिघ्न (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक) + कृति (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वि (संख्या) + ऊन (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्द्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (agreeing with हरिः understood as masculine but here form appears feminine; textual/metrical irregularity likely); समासः—तत्पुरुष (multi-member determinative)

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (nom sg)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching technical computation to Narada in the Moksha Dharma section, with Vedanga-style astronomical rules)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Surya

FAQs

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

It shows that Moksha-oriented life in the Purana also relies on precise Vedanga knowledge—especially Jyotisha—for correct timing of dharma, vrata, and sacred observances, supporting disciplined practice.

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

Indirectly: accurate astronomical computation supports proper observance of devotional vows and holy days; correct timing strengthens niyama (religious discipline) that sustains Vishnu-bhakti in practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotisha Vedanga—procedural calculation involving krānti (declination), akṣa (latitude), natāṃśa components, and a defined divisor (harī) used in computational steps.