Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 146

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

Devanagari script

स्वाधोधः प्रविशोध्याथ मेषाल्लंकोदयासवः । स्वागाष्टयोर्थगोगैकाः शरत्र्येकं हिमांशवः ॥ १४६ ॥

Transliteration

svādhodhaḥ praviśodhyātha meṣāllaṃkodayāsavaḥ | svāgāṣṭayorthagogaikāḥ śaratryekaṃ himāṃśavaḥ || 146 ||

Translation

Étant entré dans la course méridionale, puis—en comptant depuis le lever du Soleil en Meṣa (Bélier)—(les mois se dénombrent ainsi) : huit (mois) relèvent du mouvement vers le sud ; un est d’automne ; et un appartient à l’hiver, ô auditeur.

Word by Word

• स्व-अधः: below (in one’s own system)
• स्व-अधः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अधः (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः = ‘below/under (one’s own reference)’

• धः: indeed/just (particle)
• धः: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धः (अव्यय; निपात)
• Form: अव्यय/निपात; पाठभेद/उच्चारण-समर्थक (emphatic particle)

• प्रविशोध्य: having corrected/purified
• प्रविशोध्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + विशोध्य (कृदन्त; √शुध्/√शोध् धातु, ल्यप्/gerund)
• Form: अव्ययभावे कृदन्त (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थक) = ‘having purified/after correcting’; पूर्वक्रिया

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse marker (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• मेषात्: from Aries (Mesha)
• मेषात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• लङ्क-उदय-आसवः: the āsavas of rising at Lanka (reference meridian)
• लङ्क-उदय-आसवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लङ्का (प्रातिपदिक) + उदय (प्रातिपदिक) + आसव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लङ्कायाम् उदयस्य आसवः)

• स्व-अङ्ग-अष्टय-उर्-थ-गो-ग-एकाः: coded as sva-aṅga-8-ur-th-go-g-1
• स्व-अङ्ग-अष्टय-उर्-थ-गो-ग-एकाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक/संकेत) + अष्टय (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + उर् (संकेत) + थ (संकेत) + गो (प्रातिपदिक/संकेत) + ग (संकेत) + एक (संख्या)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुपद-समासः (संख्यादि-निर्देशात्मक)

• शरत्-त्रि-एकम्: (the value) 3+1 in ‘śarat’ code / a coded number
• शरत्-त्रि-एकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरत् (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रि (संख्या) + एक (संख्या)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (संख्यापूर्वकः)

• हिम-अंशवः: moon-beams; the Moon (lit. ‘cold-rayed ones’)
• हिम-अंशवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिम (प्रातिपदिक) + अंशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (हिमः अंशुः = चन्द्रः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Meṣa (Aries)

FAQs

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

It links dharma-practice to correct kāla (time): knowing ayana (solar course) and seasonal divisions helps align vows, worship, and observances with auspicious timing.

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

By emphasizing proper time-reckoning, it supports disciplined devotional observances (vratas, pūjā timings) performed with awareness of cosmic order, which steadies bhakti through niyama (regulated practice).

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa: the verse indicates reckoning months/seasons with reference to Meṣa (Aries) and the Sun’s course (ayana), a technical basis for calendrical and ritual scheduling.