Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 122

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

Devanagari script

स्वाहोरात्रचतुर्भागेदिनरात्रिदले स्मृते । याम्यक्रांतौ विपर्यस्ते द्विगुणैते दिनक्षये ॥ १२२ ॥

Transliteration

svāhorātracaturbhāgedinarātridale smṛte | yāmyakrāṃtau viparyaste dviguṇaite dinakṣaye || 122 ||

Translation

Dans le partage d’un jour‑nuit entier en quatre parts, chaque moitié (jour et nuit) doit être comprise ainsi. Mais lorsque prévaut la marche méridionale du soleil (dakṣiṇāyana), ces parts s’inversent; et au déclin du jour, elles deviennent doubles.

Word by Word

• स्व-अहोरात्र-चतुर्-भागे: in one’s own quarter of day-and-night
• स्व-अहोरात्र-चतुर्-भागे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अहोरात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य अहोरात्रस्य चतुर्थभागे)

• दिन-रात्रि-दले: in the half of day and night
• दिन-रात्रि-दले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक) + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दिनरात्र्योः दलम्)

• स्मृते: when (it is) considered
• स्मृते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्मृ (धातु) स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त ‘स्मृत’—‘when it is considered/remembered’ (locative absolute)

• याम्य-क्रान्तौ: in the southern passage (yāmya-krānti)
• याम्य-क्रान्तौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याम्य (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रान्ति (प्रातिपदिक, √क्रम् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (याम्यायां क्रान्तौ)

• विपर्यस्ते: are reversed
• विपर्यस्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु) + विपर्यस्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, वि-परि-√अस्/√स्था)
• Form: प्रथमा, द्विवचन/बहुवचन-सम्भाव्य; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘विपर्यस्त’—‘reversed’; here used predicatively (‘are reversed’)

• द्वि-गुणौ: double (twofold)
• द्वि-गुणौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुषः (द्विगुणौ = twice)

• एते: these two
• एते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• दिन-क्षये: at the end of the day
• दिन-क्षये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिन (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (दिनस्य क्षये)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Surya

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that dharma and vrata are not only about intention but also about correct kāla (sacred timing); aligning actions with cosmic order (as governed by the sun’s course) supports steadiness of mind and purity of practice.

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

Bhakti practices like pūjā, japa, and vratas are traditionally performed at prescribed times; the verse supports devotion by teaching accurate time-divisions so worship is offered in the proper yama/portion of day in harmony with seasonal solar movement.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astronomy/astrology): it points to rules for dividing the ahorātra (day-night), accounting for the sun’s southern course (dakṣiṇāyana) and time-variation that affects ritual scheduling.