Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 93

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

Devanagari script

खंडकाः स्युश्चतुर्विशा ज्यार्द्धपिंडाः क्रमादमी । परमा पक्रमज्या तु सप्तरंध्रगुणेंदवः ॥ ९३ ॥

Transliteration

khaṃḍakāḥ syuścaturviśā jyārddhapiṃḍāḥ kramādamī | paramā pakramajyā tu saptaraṃdhraguṇeṃdavaḥ || 93 ||

Translation

हे क्रमाने ज्यार्ध-पिंड असून ‘खंडक’ नावाने चोवीस आहेत. परम पक्रमज्या ही ‘सप्तरंध्र-गुणित इंदु’ या मानाने मोजली जाते।

Word by Word

• खण्डकाः: segments/parts
• खण्डकाः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खण्डक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (Masc., Nom., Pl.)

• स्युः: should be/are
• स्युः: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद — ‘should be/are’

• चतुर्विंशाः: twenty-four
• चतुर्विंशाः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्विंश (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास/संख्या-विशेषण: चतुर्विंशति (24) → चतुर्विंश; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (Masc., Nom., Pl.) — खण्डकाः इति विशेषणम्

• ज्या-अर्ध-पिण्डाः: half-sine aggregates
• ज्या-अर्ध-पिण्डाः: सम्बन्ध/विषय (Sambandha/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्या + अर्ध + पिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ज्या-अर्ध (half-sine) + पिण्ड ‘aggregate’ → ‘half-sine aggregates’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (Masc., Nom., Pl.)

• क्रमात्: in sequence
• क्रमात्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् — ‘in order/stepwise’

• अमी: these
• अमी: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (Masc., Nom., Pl.) — ‘these’

• परमा: ultimate
• परमा: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (Fem., Nom., Sing.) — ‘supreme/ultimate’

• पक्रम-ज्या: progression-sine
• पक्रम-ज्या: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्रम + ज्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: पक्रम (progression/step) + ज्या ‘sine’ → ‘progression-sine’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (Fem., Nom., Sing.)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: निपात (Nipāta/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात — ‘but/indeed’

• सप्त-रन्ध्र-गुण-इन्दवः: (values) expressed via bhūta-saṅkhyā: ‘seven–randra–multiplied–moon’
• सप्त-रन्ध्र-गुण-इन्दवः: सम्बन्ध/विषय (Sambandha/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त + रन्ध्र + गुण + इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (बहुपद): सप्त (seven) + रन्ध्र (hole; here ‘9’ in bhūta-saṅkhyā) + गुण (multiplied) + इन्दु (moon; here ‘1’ in bhūta-saṅkhyā) → ‘(numbers) multiplied as per bhūta-saṅkhyā’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (Masc., Nom., Pl.)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada, within a technical/śāstra exposition)

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?

Although technical, the verse shows the Purana’s Vedāṅga orientation: precise knowledge (śāstra-pramāṇa) is treated as a support for dharma and right understanding, which ultimately aids mokṣa-oriented living.

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

Direct bhakti is not stated here; instead, it indirectly supports bhakti by emphasizing disciplined, accurate śāstric learning—traditionally seen as removing confusion and stabilizing a devotee’s practice and observances.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa-style technical enumeration is highlighted: ordered units (khaṇḍaka), chord-related terminology (jyā, pakrama-jyā), and fixed numerical standards used for calculation and canonical measurement.