Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 72

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

Devanagari script

रवचतुष्का समुद्राष्टकुर्पचरविमासकाः । षट्त्र्यग्निवेदग्निपंचशुभ्रांशुमासकाः ॥ ७२ ॥

Transliteration

ravacatuṣkā samudrāṣṭakurpacaravimāsakāḥ | ṣaṭtryagnivedagnipaṃcaśubhrāṃśumāsakāḥ || 72 ||

Translation

“Rava-catuṣkā,” “Samudra-aṣṭa,” “Kurpa-cara,” and “Ravi-māsaka”; likewise “Ṣaṭ-try-agni,” “Veda-agni,” and “Pañca-śubhrāṃśu-māsaka”—these are named classes of māsakas, standard units used in ritual calculation and in the measure of gifts.

Word by Word

• ravi-catuṣkāḥ: Ravi-fourfold groups (four of the Sun)
• ravi-catuṣkāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ravi (प्रातिपदिक) + catuṣka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-सन्निकर्ष (ravi-catuṣka = group of four related to Ravi)

• samudra-aṣṭa-kurpa-cara-vi-māsakāḥ: ocean, eight, kurpa, moving, months (as number-words)
• samudra-aṣṭa-kurpa-cara-vi-māsakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudra (प्रातिपदिक) + aṣṭa (संख्या) + kurpa (प्रातिपदिक) + cara (प्रातिपदिक) + vi (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; गणनापद-समाहार (enumerative list; includes vi-māsa = months)

• ṣaṭ: six
• ṣaṭ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (numeral used indeclinably)

• tri: three
• tri: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (numeral used indeclinably)

• agni-veda-agni-paṃca-śubhrāṃśu-māsakāḥ: Agni, Veda, Agni, five, Moon, months (as number-words)
• agni-veda-agni-paṃca-śubhrāṃśu-māsakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक) + veda (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + pañca (संख्या) + śubhrāṃśu (प्रातिपदिक) + māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; भूतसंख्या/गणनापद-समाहार (enumerative list; śubhrāṃśu = moon)

Speaker

Sage Narada (teaching in the Moksha-Dharma section; traditional dialogue frame with Sanatkumara lineage implied)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It systematizes ritual terminology—named classes of māsaka-measures—so that dāna (charity), vrata (vows), and other dharmic acts are performed with precision, which the Purana treats as supportive discipline for purification and moksha-oriented life.

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

Indirectly: by standardizing the ‘how’ of dharmic practice, it safeguards the integrity of offerings and vows that are often dedicated to Bhagavan; correct observance becomes an aid to steady devotion rather than a source of confusion or error.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Kalpa-style procedural knowledge (ritual calculation and nomenclature of measures) is foregrounded—technical classification used to compute quantities/time-units for rites and donations.