Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 183

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

Devanagari script

स्थिरीकृतार्द्धरा त्रार्द्धौ द्वयोर्विवरलिप्तकाः । षष्टिश्चाचंद्रभुक्ताप्ता पातकालस्य नाडिकाः ॥ १८३ ॥

Transliteration

sthirīkṛtārddharā trārddhau dvayorvivaraliptakāḥ | ṣaṣṭiścācaṃdrabhuktāptā pātakālasya nāḍikāḥ || 183 ||

Translation

അർദ്ധമാപം സ്ഥിരമായാൽ, രണ്ട് ‘ത്രാർദ്ധ’ ചേർന്ന് ‘വിവര-ലിപ്തകാ’ (ലിപ്താ) എന്ന ഇടവേളയാകുന്നു. ചന്ദ്രഭുക്തിയാൽ ലഭിക്കുന്ന അത്തരം അറുപത് അളവുകളാണ് പാതകാലത്തിന്റെ നാഡികകൾ (കാല ഏകകങ്ങൾ).

Word by Word

• स्थिरीकृत-अर्ध-राः: the fixed half-parts
• स्थिरीकृत-अर्ध-राः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिरीकृत (कृदन्त; √कृ, क्त with causative sense) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + रा (प्रातिपदिक; here ‘rā’ as unit/part)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः; पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-बहुवचन (1st pl.)

• त्रि-अर्धौ: two ‘three-halves’ (i.e., 1.5 units each)
• त्रि-अर्धौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः द्विगुः; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा-द्विवचन (1st dual)

• द्वयोः: of the two
• द्वयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचन (6th/7th dual)

• विवर-लिप्तकाः: the liptā-units of the difference (gap)
• विवर-लिप्तकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवर (प्रातिपदिक) + लिप्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः; पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-बहुवचन (1st pl.)

• षष्टिः: sixty
• षष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्टि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-एकवचन (1st sg.)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अचन्द्र-भुक्त-आप्ताः: obtained without (using) the moon’s bhukti
• अचन्द्र-भुक्त-आप्ताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ- (निषेध) + चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + भुक्त (कृदन्त; √भुज्, क्त) + आप्त (कृदन्त; √आप्, क्त)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः; पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-बहुवचन (1st pl.)

• पात-कालस्य: of the time of pāta
• पात-कालस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः तत्पुरुषः; पुंलिङ्ग (m.), षष्ठी-एकवचन (6th sg.)

• नाडिकाः: nāḍikā-s (time-units)
• नाडिकाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाडिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), प्रथमा-बहुवचन (1st pl.)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Dharma and ritual practice depend on correct kāla (time) reckoning; precise measurement supports disciplined observance and orderly spiritual life.

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

Bhakti practices (vratas, pūjā timings, fasts) rely on accurate time divisions; this verse supplies the technical groundwork so devotional observances align with śāstric timing.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa: it details technical subdivisions of time (liptā, nāḍikā) and notes their derivation through lunar computation used for calendrical and ritual scheduling.