Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 157

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

Devanagari script

इष्टैः पलैस्तदूनाढ्यं व्यगावूनेऽर्कषङ्गुणः । तदन्यथाधिके तस्मिन्नेवं स्पष्टे सुखांत्यगे ॥ १५७ ॥

Transliteration

iṣṭaiḥ palaistadūnāḍhyaṃ vyagāvūne'rkaṣaṅguṇaḥ | tadanyathādhike tasminnevaṃ spaṣṭe sukhāṃtyage || 157 ||

Translation

Lorsque le nombre prescrit de palas est insuffisant ou excessif, le résultat devient défectueux d’autant; et quand l’insuffisance atteint un vyagāva, le résultat est multiplié par le facteur du Soleil, qui est six. Si, au contraire, il y a excès, le résultat est modifié en conséquence—ainsi le calcul est énoncé clairement, s’achevant dans l’attribution de la jouissance (fruit mondain).

Word by Word

• इष्टैः: with desired/approved (ones)
• इष्टैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट (√इष्/√यज्?; सामान्यतः √इष् ‘desire’/√यज् ‘worship’ क्त; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘desired/approved’

• पलैः: with palas (weights)
• पलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (usage varies), तृतीया, बहुवचन; weight-unit ‘pala’

• तत्-ऊन-आढ्यम्: that deficiency-adjusted amount
• तत्-ऊन-आढ्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + ऊन (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष; ‘rich by that deficiency’ / ‘deficiency-adjusted’ (technical)

• व्यगावूने: in/with vyagāvūna (technical, uncertain)
• व्यगावूने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यगावून (प्रातिपदिक; पाठभेद/दुर्लभ)
• Form: सप्तमी (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; technical term (uncertain)

• अर्क-षङ्-गुणः: sixfold (factor) of arka
• अर्क-षङ्-गुणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क (प्रातिपदिक) + षङ् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष; ‘sixfold of arka’ / ‘sun ×6’

• तत्-अन्यथा-अधिके: in the case of being otherwise greater
• तत्-अन्यथा-अधिके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + अन्यथा (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-भाव) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष; ‘when it is otherwise greater’

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: ‘thus’)

• स्पष्टे: when clear / in the clear case
• स्पष्टे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्पष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी, एकवचन (or प्रथमा द्विवचन in other contexts); here locative agreeing with तस्मिन्; ‘clear/explicit’

• सुख-अन्त्यगे: at the comfortable end / in the easy terminal case
• सुख-अन्त्यगे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त्यग (प्रातिपदिक; अन्त्य + ग ‘going/ending’)
• Form: सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष; ‘at the end-point of ease/comfort’ (technical phrase)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara
• Arka (Surya)

FAQs

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

It stresses that karmic rites yield results according to precision: even small errors in measure change the fruit, showing why disciplined, rule-based practice is required before higher moksha-oriented absorption.

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

Indirectly, it contrasts mechanical phala-seeking with clarity about outcomes; such clarity helps a practitioner move from calculating pleasures (sukha) toward offering actions to the Divine without attachment—supportive of mature Vishnu-bhakti.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedanga-style ritual computation and metrology: using standardized measures (pala, vyagāva) and rule-based multipliers (e.g., sixfold via Arka/Sun factor) to determine how deficiency or excess alters ritual phala.