Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 134

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

Devanagari script

रेखा प्राच्यपरा साध्या विषुवद्भाग्रया तथा । इष्टच्छायाविषुवतोर्मध्येह्यग्राभिधीयते ॥ १३४ ॥

Transliteration

rekhā prācyaparā sādhyā viṣuvadbhāgrayā tathā | iṣṭacchāyāviṣuvatormadhyehyagrābhidhīyate || 134 ||

Translation

Qu’on trace une ligne tournée vers l’est, et de même une ligne conforme à l’axe équinoxial (est–ouest). Le point nommé « agrā » est dit se tenir au milieu entre la marque d’ombre désirée et la marque d’ombre de l’équinoxe.

Word by Word

• रेखा: a line
• रेखा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्राच्यपरा: oriented east–west (towards the east and beyond)
• प्राच्यपरा: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राच्य + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• साध्या: to be determined/constructed
• साध्या: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण (predicative adjective)

• विषुवत्: like the equinox
• विषुवत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial relation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विषुवत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्-शब्द)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/तुल्यवाचक (comparative adverb)

• भाग्रया: by the (measuring) arc/segment (bhāgrā)
• भाग्रया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तथा: thus/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय (adverb)

• इष्ट: desired
• इष्ट: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (कृदन्त; √इष्/इच्छ् + क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/समासाङ्ग; here as compound-member

• छाया: shadow
• छाया: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (contextual), एकवचन; here as compound-member

• विषुवतोः: of the two equinoxes
• विषुवतोः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषुवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle, emphasis)

• अग्रा: the fore-line/agra (name of the line)
• अग्रा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अभिधीयते: is called/denoted
• अभिधीयते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धा (धातु) + अभि- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical-vedanga style passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

FAQs

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

It shows that dharma and moksha-oriented life in the Purana is supported by precise knowledge (vidyā): correct orientation and time-reckoning (through shadow and equinoctial markers) safeguard the accuracy of rites and disciplined living.

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

While not directly a bhakti-verse, it supports bhakti-practice indirectly: accurate determination of direction and time helps perform Vishnu-oriented worship, vrata timings, and daily observances with steadiness and correctness.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa and chāyā-gaṇita (shadow-based measurement): drawing an east-oriented line, using the equinoctial (viṣuvat) reference, and defining a midpoint marker (agrā) for further calculation or alignment.