Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

लवा लवघ्नाश्च हरा हरघ्ना हि सवर्णनम् । भागप्रभागे विज्ञेयं मुने शास्रार्थचिंतकैः ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

lavā lavaghnāśca harā haraghnā hi savarṇanam | bhāgaprabhāge vijñeyaṃ mune śāsrārthaciṃtakaiḥ || 22 ||

Translation

മുനേ, ‘ലവ’ ‘ലവഘ്നാ’ എന്നും, അതുപോലെ ‘ഹര’ ‘ഹരഘ്നാ’ എന്നും ഉള്ള പദങ്ങൾ ഒരേ വർഗ്ഗത്തിലെ നാമങ്ങൾ (സവർണനാമം) ആണെന്ന് അറിയണം. ഭിന്നവും ഉപഭിന്നവും എന്ന വിഷയത്തിൽ ശാസ്ത്രാർത്ഥം ചിന്തിക്കുന്നവർ ഇത് പ്രത്യേകമായി ഗ്രഹിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• लवाः: fractions/parts (lavāḥ)
• लवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• लव-घ्नाः: multipliers of fractions
• लव-घ्नाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लव (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘fraction-multipliers’

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

• हराः: divisors
• हराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• हर-घ्नाः: multipliers of divisors
• हर-घ्नाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘divisor-multipliers’

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चय (indeed/for)

• सवर्णनम्: homogenization/making like (same-denominator)
• सवर्णनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सवर्णन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक (state of being like/with same class)

• भाग-प्रभागे: in division and subdivision
• भाग-प्रभागे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (copulative): ‘in division and sub-division’

• विज्ञेयम्: should be known
• विज्ञेयम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु) + य (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be known’

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन

• शास्त्र-अर्थ-चिन्तकैः: by those who reflect on scriptural meaning
• शास्त्र-अर्थ-चिन्तकैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + चिन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-श्रृंखला: ‘thinkers of the meaning of scripture’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical-śāstra context)

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 śāstric precision: understanding subtle distinctions (and equivalences) in terminology trains the mind for disciplined inquiry, which supports jñāna and mokṣa-oriented study.

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

Indirectly: bhakti is strengthened when ritual, recitation, and study are done with correct understanding; the verse models careful attention to śāstra so devotion is not careless or confused.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical, Vedanga-adjacent point (Vyākaraṇa/śāstra-nirṇaya): how certain unit-terms are treated as equivalent/synonymous when discussing fractional divisions (bhāga, prabhāga).