Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 140

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

Devanagari script

शंकुमानांगुलाभ्यस्ते भुजत्रिज्ये यथांक्रमम् । कोटीज्ययाविभज्याप्ते छायाकर्माबहिर्द्दले ॥ १४० ॥

Transliteration

śaṃkumānāṃgulābhyaste bhujatrijye yathāṃkramam | koṭījyayāvibhajyāpte chāyākarmābahirddale || 140 ||

Translation

Lorsque la bhujā (base) et la trijyā (rayon/hypoténuse) sont multipliées successivement par la mesure du śaṅku (gnomon) exprimée en aṅgulas, puis que ces produits sont divisés par la koṭi-jyā, la valeur obtenue doit être appliquée à l’étape externe du calcul de l’ombre (chāyā-karma).

Word by Word

• शङ्कु: gnomon
• शङ्कु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; (compound member)

• मान: measure
• मान: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; (compound member)

• अङ्गुल: finger-breadth (aṅgula)
• अङ्गुल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; (compound member)

• अभ्यस्ते: (is) multiplied
• अभ्यस्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभ्यस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/लङ्?; here best as लिट्-प्रयोगवत्/कर्मणि-भूतकर्म (contextual); 3rd person dual? but form suggests past passive participle-like usage; interpret as 'multiplied' (अभ्यस्त = multiplied) with sandhi to अभ्यस्ते (loc/dual).

• भुज: arm, base (sine)
• भुज: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (compound member)

• त्रिज्ये: in/with the radius
• त्रिज्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि-ज्या (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + ज्या)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी); एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (त्रि = त्रिज्या 'radius')

• यथा: as, according to
• यथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (as, according to)

• अनुक्रमम्: in sequence
• अनुक्रमम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया); एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् (adverbial accusative: 'in order')

• कोटीज्यया: by the cosine (koṭijyā)
• कोटीज्यया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि-ज्या (प्रातिपदिक; कोटि + ज्या)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया); एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कोट्याः ज्या)

• विभज्य: having divided
• विभज्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विभज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); 'having divided'

• आप्ते: obtained, resulting
• आप्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/सप्तमी?; here as predicate 'obtained/resulting' (आप्त) with sandhi to आप्ते

• छाया: shadow
• छाया: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; (compound member)

• कर्म: operation, procedure
• कर्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; (compound member)

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: outside)

• दले: in the part/section
• दले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी); एकवचन

Speaker

Narada (within a technical exposition on computation/measurement)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

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

It highlights that dharma and mokṣa-oriented life in the Purāṇic tradition is supported by precise Vedic sciences—accurate measurement (pramāṇa) and time-knowledge (Jyotiṣa) safeguard correct observance of rites and disciplines.

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

Indirectly: by teaching reliable methods for determining time and related calculations, it supports properly timed worship, vrata observance, and ritual discipline—practical foundations that steady devotional practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa and gaṇita-style computation: a rule using śaṅku (gnomon), aṅgula units, and triangle components (bhujā, koṭi-jyā, trijyā) for chāyā-karma (shadow calculation).