Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 77

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

Devanagari script

मासीकृतायुता मासैर्मधुशुक्लादिभिर्गतैः । पृथक्त्थासिधिमासग्रासूर्यमासविभाजिताः ॥ ७७ ॥

Transliteration

māsīkṛtāyutā māsairmadhuśuklādibhirgataiḥ | pṛthaktthāsidhimāsagrāsūryamāsavibhājitāḥ || 77 ||

Translation

When the reckoning is converted into months—counted through the months known as Madhu, Śukla, and the rest—it is further distinguished into separate kinds: the Sthāsi (civil) month, the Dhi (lunar) month, the Grāsa (synodic) month, and the Sūrya (solar) month.

Word by Word

• māsī-kṛta-ayutāḥ: (they) being tens-of-thousands made into months
• māsī-kṛta-ayutāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māsī (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ कृ) + ayuta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (māsī-kṛta = ‘made into months’) qualifying ayutāḥ

• māsaiḥ: by/with months
• māsaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन

• madhu-śukla-ādibhiḥ: by (the months) Madhu, Śukla, etc.
• madhu-śukla-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu (प्रातिपदिक) + śukla (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual), तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; madhu-śukla-ādi = ‘Madhu, Śukla, etc.’ (ādi-tatpuruṣa)

• gataiḥ: having proceeded/being arranged
• gataiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gata (कृदन्त; √gam गम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past participle) used adjectivally

• pṛthak: separately
• pṛthak: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pṛthak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• tthāsi-dhi-māsa-grāsa-sūrya-māsa-vibhājitāḥ: divided into (units such as) month, ‘grāsa’, solar-month, etc.
• tthāsi-dhi-māsa-grāsa-sūrya-māsa-vibhājitāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: (uncertain segmentation) tthāsi (प्रातिपदिक/पाठभेद?) + dhi (प्रातिपदिक/पाठभेद?) + māsa (प्रातिपदिक) + grāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + māsa (प्रातिपदिक) + vibhājita (कृदन्त; √bhaj भज् with vi-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; vibhājita = भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘divided’; पूर्वपद-समूहः तत्पुरुषवत् (determinative chain). Note: tthāsi-dhi- is likely a corrupted/variant reading; requires manuscript confirmation.

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a Moksha-Dharma context with technical time-reckoning details)

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 grounds Dharma and Moksha-oriented practice in correct kāla (time) knowledge, showing that sacred observances depend on precise calendrical divisions rather than vague “month” counting.

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

Bhakti practices like vrata, festival worship, and Viṣṇu-related observances become spiritually effective when performed in the properly defined month (lunar/solar), so devotion is supported by accurate time-reckoning.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa: the classification of months (māsa-bheda)—civil, lunar, synodic, and solar—used to time rituals, fasts, and calendrical calculations.