Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20
Chandas: Varṇa-gaṇas, Guru-Laghu, Vṛtta-bheda, and Prastāra Procedures
उद्दिष्टांकसमाहारः सैको वा जनयेदिमाम् । संख्यैव द्विगुणैकोना सद्भिरध्वा प्रकीर्तितः ॥ २० ॥
uddiṣṭāṃkasamāhāraḥ saiko vā janayedimām | saṃkhyaiva dviguṇaikonā sadbhiradhvā prakīrtitaḥ || 20 ||
The total obtained by adding up the stated digits—either that total itself, or that total plus one—produces this result. The wise declare that the ‘adhvan’ is precisely the number that is one less than twice the saṃkhyā.
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical section)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It shows that the Purana also preserves disciplined, rule-based knowledge: clear definitions and exact relations (like adhvan in terms of saṃkhyā) support dharma and right understanding, which ultimately steady the mind for mokṣa-oriented inquiry.
This verse is not directly a bhakti instruction; it models śāstric clarity—precise learning and correct transmission—which in the Narada Purana context complements devotion by preventing confusion in practice and study.
A technical, computation-like rule is stated: adhvan is defined as ‘one less than twice the saṃkhyā,’ and a method is given using the sum of indicated digits (with an optional +1), reflecting the Purana’s preservation of structured, Vedāṅga-adjacent numerical reasoning.