Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 144

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

Devanagari script

ग्रहोदयाः प्राणहताः खखाष्टैकोद्धता गतिः । चक्रासवो लब्धयुती स्व्रहोरात्रासवः स्मृताः ॥ १४४ ॥

Transliteration

grahodayāḥ prāṇahatāḥ khakhāṣṭaikoddhatā gatiḥ | cakrāsavo labdhayutī svrahorātrāsavaḥ smṛtāḥ || 144 ||

Translation

ഗ്രഹോദയങ്ങളെ ‘പ്രാണഹത’ എന്നു വിളിക്കുന്നു; ഗണിതമായി നിർണ്ണയിച്ച ഗതി ‘ഖഖാഷ്ടൈകോദ്ധതാ-ഗതി’ എന്നായി സ്മൃതം. ലബ്ധി (ലഭിച്ച ഫലം) ചേർന്ന പരിക്രമണചക്രങ്ങൾ ‘ചക്രാസവ’ എന്നു പറയുന്നു; ദിന-രാത്രി അളവുകൾ ‘അഹോരാത്രാസവ’ എന്നും ഓർക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.

Word by Word

• ग्रह-उदयाः: risings of the planets
• ग्रह-उदयाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + उदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ग्रहस्य उदयाः)

• प्राण-हताः: life-destroying
• प्राण-हताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + हत (कृदन्त; √हन् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘हत’; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्राणान् हताः/प्राणैः हताः)

• ख-ख-अष्ट-एक-उद्धताः: raised/augmented by (the numbers) 0-0-8-1 (coded)
• ख-ख-अष्ट-एक-उद्धताः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ख (प्रातिपदिक) + ख (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्ट (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धत (कृदन्त; √उद्+√हन्/√धृ? प्रचलित ‘उद्धत’ = raised)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुपद-समासः (संख्यादि-निर्देशात्मक), ‘उद्धत’ (क्त/PPP) = ‘उत्थापित/उन्नत’; विशेषणत्वेन

• गतिः: motion/measure (gati)
• गतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• चक्र-आसवः: the ‘āsava’ of the wheel/cycle
• चक्र-आसवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आसव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (चक्रस्य आसवः)

• लब्ध-युती: having obtained conjunction/addition
• लब्ध-युती: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लब्ध (कृदन्त; √लभ् धातु) + युति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (लब्धा युतिः यस्याः/या) = ‘प्राप्त-युति’; विशेषणत्वेन

• स्वः-रात्र-आसवः: the āsavas of day-and-night (ahorātra)
• स्वः-रात्र-आसवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वः (प्रातिपदिक) + रात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आसव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समाहार/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अहोरात्रस्य आसवः); ‘स्वः’ इति ‘अहः’ (day) का वैदिक-रूप/पर्याय

• स्मृताः: are stated/are remembered
• स्मृताः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predication)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृत (कृदन्त; √स्मृ धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘स्मृत’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थे ‘are said/are remembered’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical/definitional passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It frames time (kāla) as knowable through precise Jyotiṣa measures—planetary risings, motions, cycles, and day-night calculations—supporting correct dharma practice and disciplined life that ultimately aids Mokṣa-oriented living.

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

By clarifying technical time-units used in calendrical reckoning, it indirectly supports Bhakti practice: vrata dates, pūjā timings, and sacred observances depend on accurate ahorātra and graha computations, ensuring devotion is performed at the proper times.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa: terminology for planetary rising (grahodayā), motion (gati), revolution/cycle (cakra), computed result (labdhi), and day-night measures (ahorātra) used in traditional astronomical/astrological calculation.