Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 142

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

Devanagari script

परमोपक्रमज्याप्त चापमेपादिगो रविः । कर्कादौ प्रोह्यचक्रार्द्धात्तुलादौ भार्द्धसंयुतात्त ॥ १४२ ॥

Transliteration

paramopakramajyāpta cāpamepādigo raviḥ | karkādau prohyacakrārddhāttulādau bhārddhasaṃyutātta || 142 ||

Translation

പരമ ഉപക്രമ-ജ്യാ രീതിയിൽ ലഭിച്ച ചാപംകൊണ്ട് രവി ഒരു പാദം (ചതുർത്ഥാംശം) സഞ്ചരിച്ചതായി കണക്കാക്കുന്നു. കർക്കടാദി രാശികളിൽ അർദ്ധചക്രത്തിൽ നിന്ന് കുറയ്ക്കണം; തുല മുതൽ അർദ്ധചക്രം ചേർത്ത് ഫലം സ്വീകരിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• परम: supreme, maximum
• परम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (compound member)

• उपक्रम: offset/commencement
• उपक्रम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (compound member)

• ज्या: sine
• ज्या: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (compound member)

• आप्त: obtained, reached
• आप्त: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally; (compound member)

• चापम्: arc
• चापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया); एकवचन

• एपादिगः: going to that quarter (east etc.)
• एपादिगः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ए-पादि-ग (प्रातिपदिक; ग from √गम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (एपादि = 'this quarter etc.' + ग = going/being)

• रविः: the Sun
• रविः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); एकवचन

• कर्क: Cancer (Karka)
• कर्क: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (compound member; zodiac sign Cancer)

• आदौ: at the beginning (from)
• आदौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th) एकवचन in sense 'at the beginning'; commonly adverbial

• प्रोह्य: having shifted
• प्रोह्य: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-उह्/प्र-ऊह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); 'having shifted/removed' (prohya)

• चक्र: circle
• चक्र: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (compound member)

• अर्धात्: from half
• अर्धात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी); एकवचन

• तुला: Libra (Tulā)
• तुला: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (compound member; zodiac sign Libra)

• आदौ: at the beginning (from)
• आदौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी; एकवचन; adverbial

• भ: sign/asterism (bha)
• भ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (compound member; likely 'bhā'/'bha' = sign/asterism)

• अर्ध: half
• अर्ध: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (compound member)

• संयुतात्: from the added/joined (amount)
• संयुतात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-युज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle) in ablative; नपुंसक/पुं; पञ्चमी (5th); एकवचन; 'from what is joined/added'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical Vedanga-style exposition)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Ravi (Sun)
• Karka (Cancer)
• Tulā (Libra)

FAQs

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

It shows that correct Dharma-practice depends on correct timekeeping; Jyotiṣa computations (like the Sun’s arc through zodiacal signs) support accurate calendars for vrata, yajña, and sacred observances.

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

Indirectly: Bhakti practices (fasts, pūjā timings, festival observances) require proper tithi and solar motion calculations; this verse supplies a technical rule that safeguards devotional discipline through right timing.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa—specifically, a quadrant/half-circle correction rule for solar arc computation across zodiacal halves (Cancer-side subtraction from 180°, Libra-side half-circle adjustment).