Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 81

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

Devanagari script

सप्तोर्द्धनावशेषौ तौ विज्ञेयौ मासवर्षपौ । स्नेहस्य भगणाभ्यस्तो दिनराशिः कुवासरैः ॥ ८१ ॥

Transliteration

saptorddhanāvaśeṣau tau vijñeyau māsavarṣapau | snehasya bhagaṇābhyasto dinarāśiḥ kuvāsaraiḥ || 81 ||

Translation

Those two remainders, leaving seven and a half over, are to be understood as the month and the year. And the total number of days—obtained by applying the cycles (bhagaṇa) to the given quantity—should be expressed in terms of the resulting weekdays (vāras).

Word by Word

• sapta-ūrdhva-nāvaśeṣau: the two having remainder beyond seven
• sapta-ūrdhva-nāvaśeṣau: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapta (संख्या) + ūrdhva (प्रातिपदिक) + nāvaśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual); तत्पुरुषः; ‘having remainder above seven’ (technical)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual); सर्वनाम

• vijñeyau: to be known/understood
• vijñeyau: Vidhi (विधि/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√jñā (धातु) + ya (कृदन्त, यत्/भाव्य)
• Form: भाव्य/विधेय-कृदन्त (gerundive, ‘to be known’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• māsa-varṣapau: month and year (the pair)
• māsa-varṣapau: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक) + varṣapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual); द्वन्द्वः (month and year)

• snehasya: of sneha (a technical quantity/name)
• snehasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sneha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• bhagaṇa-abhyastaḥ: multiplied by the bhagaṇa
• bhagaṇa-abhyastaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhagaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + abhyasta (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); तत्पुरुषः; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त = ‘multiplied/iterated by’

• dina-rāśiḥ: sum/aggregate of days
• dina-rāśiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक) + rāśi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• ku-vāsaraiḥ: by irregular days
• ku-vāsaraiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ku (उपसर्ग/निपात) + vāsara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन (Plural); तत्पुरुषः; ku- = ‘defective/irregular’ (technical)

Speaker

Narada (teaching technical computation in the Vedanga/astronomical mode within the Moksha-Dharma section)

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 sacred time (māsa, varṣa, and vāra) as something knowable through precise reckoning, supporting dharmic practice by aligning vows, rites, and observances with correctly computed calendrical time.

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing correct time computation, it underpins bhakti-based vratas and pūjā schedules—devotion becomes steadier and more disciplined when performed at properly determined sacred times.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa Vedāṅga: using bhagaṇa (astronomical cycles) and remainders to derive month/year measures and then converting the computed day-total into weekday (vāra) reckoning.