Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 101

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

Devanagari script

संख्यातत्त्वाश्विसंवर्ग्यसंयोज्यं धनुरुच्यते । रवेर्मंदपरिध्यंशा मनवः शीतगोरदाः ॥ १०१ ॥

Transliteration

saṃkhyātattvāśvisaṃvargyasaṃyojyaṃ dhanurucyate | ravermaṃdaparidhyaṃśā manavaḥ śītagoradāḥ || 101 ||

Translation

Lorsque les principes dénombrés sont rassemblés et unis, cet ensemble est appelé « Dhanus », une mesure du comput cosmique. On dit que les Manus sont des portions du lent parcours du Soleil, et qu’ils dispensent fraîcheur et bétail — c’est-à-dire prospérité et ordre nourricier du monde.

Word by Word

• संख्या-तत्त्व-अश्वि-संवर्ग्य-संयोज्यम्: to be combined after grouping the counted principles and ‘aśvi’ units
• संख्या-तत्त्व-अश्वि-संवर्ग्य-संयोज्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संख्या (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्वि (प्रातिपदिक) + संवर्ग्य (कृदन्त) + संयोज्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कृदन्त—संवर्ग्य (णिच्/ल्यप्-भाव, √वृज्/वर्ग् ‘to group’, ‘having grouped’), संयोज्य (यत्/तव्यत्, √युज् ‘to join’, ‘to be combined’); समस्तपदम् विशेषणम्

• धनुः: the bow (arc)
• धनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उच्यते: is called/said
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम् (passive sense)

• रवेः: of the Sun
• रवेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• मन्द-परिधि-अंशाः: parts of the slow circumference
• मन्द-परिधि-अंशाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + परिधि (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘मन्दस्य परिध्यंशाः’ = parts of the slow (orbit) circumference (textual form paridhyaṃśā < परिधि-अंशाः)

• मनवः: Manus
• मनवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• शीत-गो-रदाः: those having ‘cold’ cows/teeth (epithet; uncertain)
• शीत-गो-रदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीत (प्रातिपदिक) + गो (प्रातिपदिक) + रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘शीताः गावः रदाः (दन्ताः) येषां ते’ / or ‘having cold rays/teeth’ (epithet; reading uncertain)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma discourse)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Surya (Ravi)
• Manu

FAQs

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

It frames cosmic time and governance (Manus/Manvantaras) as an ordered, measurable system, encouraging a moksha-oriented view that the universe runs by dharma-bound cycles rather than randomness.

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

Indirectly: by showing the Sun’s ordained cycles and the Manus’ sustaining role, it supports bhakti as trust in divine order (niyati/dharma) that upholds the world, even when the verse itself is technical.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects Vedāṅga-style technical reckoning—astronomical/astrological time-division and cosmological measures—linking solar motion (ravi-paridhi) with larger eras (Manu/manvantara).