Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Jyotiṣa-saṅgraha: Varga-vibhāga, Bala-nirṇaya, Garbha-phala, Āyuḥ-gaṇanā

Devanagari script

सिंहोक्षाविस्रश्चतौ लिकुभाः सूर्यात्रिकोणभम् । चतुरस्रं तूर्यमृत्युत्रिकोणं नवपंचमम् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

siṃhokṣāvisraścatau likubhāḥ sūryātrikoṇabham | caturasraṃ tūryamṛtyutrikoṇaṃ navapaṃcamam || 10 ||

Translation

“Lion” and “bull,” and also the “drooping/relaxed” forms, are said to belong to the fourfold type. The Sun is to be represented as a triangle; the four-sided figure is the “fourth”; and the triangle is connected with death. The ninth and the fifth are likewise to be understood accordingly.

Word by Word

• siṃha-ukṣa-avi-sraḥ: (the set:) lion, bull, ram, sra (technical)
• siṃha-ukṣa-avi-sraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + ukṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + avi (प्रातिपदिक) + sra (प्रातिपदिक/technical)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास; प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन (collective listing); technical list of signs/terms: lion, bull, ram, etc.

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), द्विवचन; ‘those two’

• liku-bhāḥ: (the pair/group:) liku and bhā (technical)
• liku-bhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liku (प्रातिपदिक/technical) + bhā (प्रातिपदिक/technical)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास; प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; technical terms

• sūrya-trikoṇa-bham: the solar trine-sign (technical)
• sūrya-trikoṇa-bham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + trikoṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + bha (प्रातिपदिक/technical)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; ‘sun’s trine-sign/triangle-constellation’ (technical)

• caturasram: a square (figure)
• caturasram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caturasra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; ‘quadrilateral/square’

• tūrya-mṛtyu-trikoṇam: the fourth/death trine (technical)
• tūrya-mṛtyu-trikoṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛtyu (प्रातिपदिक) + trikoṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; ‘fourth/death trine’ (technical)

• nava-paṃcamam: the ninth and fifth (as a unit/measure)
• nava-paṃcamam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक) + paṃcama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; ‘ninth-fifth’ (technical designation)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical enumeration)

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 signals that the text sometimes teaches Dharma and Moksha using technical schemata—classifying forms and directions through symbols (triangle/square) to guide correct contemplation and ritual precision.

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

Indirectly: by prescribing correct symbolic forms (especially connected with Surya and mortality), it supports disciplined practice; such disciplined ritual order is presented as an aid that can be integrated into devotion rather than replacing it.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedanga Jyotisha/technical diagrammatics: the verse associates specific geometric figures (triangle, quadrilateral) with enumerated positions (e.g., fourth, fifth, ninth) and with themes like Surya and mṛtyu, indicating a rule-based symbolic mapping used in applied ritual/astrological instruction.