Shloka 44

Yama’s Journey to Brahmaloka

Ekadashi–Dvadashi Mahatmya in the Rukmangada Cycle

Devanagari script

अहोरात्रैस्तथा पक्षैर्मासैः संवत्सरैर्द्विजाः । कलाकाष्ठानिमेषैश्च ऋतुभिश्चायनैर्युगैः ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

ahorātraistathā pakṣairmāsaiḥ saṃvatsarairdvijāḥ | kalākāṣṭhānimeṣaiśca ṛtubhiścāyanairyugaiḥ || 44 ||

Translation

おお、二度生まれの者たちよ、時は昼と夜によって、半月（パクシャ）によって、月と年によって数えられる。さらにカラー、カーシュター、ニメーシャによっても、また季節、アーヤナ（太陽の運行）およびユガによっても数えられる。

Word by Word

• अहः-रात्रैः: by days and nights
• अहः-रात्रैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहः (प्रातिपदिक) + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अहः) + स्त्रीलिङ्ग (रात्रि) समाहार-द्वन्द्व; तृतीया, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रमसूचक

• पक्षैः: by fortnights
• पक्षैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• मासैः: by months
• मासैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• संवत्सरैः: by years
• संवत्सरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (brahmins)
• द्विजाः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Nominative plural); सम्बोधनार्थे अपि प्रायः (here: vocative sense ‘O twice-born’)

• कला-काष्ठा-निमेषैः: by kalās, kāṣṭhās, and nimeṣas
• कला-काष्ठा-निमेषैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक) + काष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक) + निमेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (कला/काष्ठा) + पुंलिङ्ग (निमेष) समाहार-द्वन्द्व; तृतीया, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• ऋतुभिः: by seasons
• ऋतुभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• अयनैः: by solstices/half-years (ayanas)
• अयनैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• युगैः: by ages (yugas)
• युगैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

Speaker

Narada (instructional narration addressed to dvijas)

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 frames time itself as a dharmic structure—multiple layers of temporal units that support right observance, reminding practitioners that sacred acts gain potency when aligned with proper time.

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

Bhakti is practiced through regular, time-bound disciplines—daily worship, fortnightly observances, seasonal rites, and yuga-oriented remembrance—so the verse underlines devotion as steady practice anchored in sacred time.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It points to Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astronomy/astrology and calendrics) by listing calendrical divisions like pakṣa, ṛtu, āyana, and yuga, which are essential for fixing vrata dates and ritual timing.