Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

रसांकाभ्राब्धिभिर्भक्ता धान्ये द्रोणादिकामितिः । उत्सेधव्यासदैर्ध्याणामंगुल्यान्यस्य नो द्विज ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

rasāṃkābhrābdhibhirbhaktā dhānye droṇādikāmitiḥ | utsedhavyāsadairdhyāṇāmaṃgulyānyasya no dvija || 54 ||

Translation

ឱ ព្រះព្រាហ្មណ៍ (ទ្វិជ) អើយ! ពេលយកមាត្រគ្រាប់ធញ្ញជាតិ ចែកតាមលេខដែលពាក្យ «រស», «អង្គ», «អភ្រ», និង «អប្ធិ» សម្គាល់ នោះនឹងបានមាត្រដែលប្រាថ្នា ចាប់ពី «ដ្រូណ» ជាដើម; ហើយសម្រាប់កម្ពស់ ទទឹង និងប្រវែង ឯកតារបស់វាគឺ «អង្គុល» (ទទឹងម្រាមដៃ)។

Word by Word

• रसा-अङ्क-अभ्र-अब्धिभिः: by the (units) rasa, aṅka, abhra, abdhi
• रसा-अङ्क-अभ्र-अब्धिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रसा (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक) + अभ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अब्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; समाहार-द्वन्द्वसमास (collective dvandva) used as measure-units; 'by/with (the units) rasa, aṅka, abhra, abdhi'

• भक्ता: divided/portioned
• भक्ता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त (कृदन्त; √भज् धातु)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; past passive participle (क्त) of √भज्; agrees with implied 'मितिः' (measure)

• धान्ये: in the case of grain
• धान्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; 'in/for grain' (context: grain-measure)

• द्रोण-आदिका: (measure) beginning with droṇa etc.
• द्रोण-आदिका: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रोण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष (आदि-तत्पुरुष): 'beginning with droṇa'; qualifies 'मितिः'

• मितिः: measure/measurement
• मितिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• उत्सेध-व्यासन-दैर्ध्याणाम: of height, breadth, and length
• उत्सेध-व्यासन-दैर्ध्याणाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्सेध (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यासन/व्यास (प्रातिपदिक) + दैर्ध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; द्वन्द्व (enumerative): 'of height, breadth/diameter, and length'

• अङ्गुल्यानि: (are) finger-breadths
• अङ्गुल्यानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्गुलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; used as unit 'finger-breadths'

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun

• नः: our
• नः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; enclitic pronoun 'our'

• द्विज: O twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

Speaker

Narada (in instruction to a dvija, within the Narada–Sanatkumara teaching stream)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

It preserves correct ritual and ethical order (dharma) by standardizing measures—ensuring offerings, charity, and rites are performed with accuracy rather than arbitrariness.

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

While not directly teaching bhakti, it supports devotion through precise ritual practice—accurate measurements in offerings and observances help keep worship disciplined and faithful.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights technical metrology and numerical notation (bhūta-saṅkhyā/word-numerals) used for calculations, along with standard units like droṇa (grain measure) and aṅgula (length unit).