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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55

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

मिथोघ्नाति भजेत्स्वाक्षेशैर्द्रोणादिमितिर्भवेत् । विस्ताराद्यं गुलान्येवं मिथोघ्नान्यपसांभवेत् ॥ ५५ ॥

mithoghnāti bhajetsvākṣeśairdroṇādimitirbhavet | vistārādyaṃ gulānyevaṃ mithoghnānyapasāṃbhavet || 55 ||

Dengan membahagi sukatan yang dinamakan mithoghnā menurut aṅgula (lebar jari) milik sendiri, terhasillah sukatan piawai bermula dengan droṇa. Demikian juga, daripada lebar dan ukuran garis yang lain, gulā serta sub-sukatan yang berkaitan terbit melalui pembahagian berkadar seperti itu.

मिथःmutually
मिथः:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootमिथस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
FormAvyaya; adverb meaning 'mutually/one another'
घ्नातिstrikes/cancels
घ्नाति:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√हन् (धातु)
FormPresent (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; from √हन् 'to strike/kill' (here: 'to cancel/strike off')
भजेत्should divide
भजेत्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√भज् (धातु)
FormOptative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular; 'should divide'
स्व-अक्ष-ईशैःby one’s own eyes (i.e., by observation)
स्व-अक्ष-ईशैः:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootस्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; तत्पुरुष: 'lords of (their) eyes' i.e., 'by one’s own eyes' (idiomatic)
द्रोण-आदि-मितिःthe droṇa etc. measure
द्रोण-आदि-मितिः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootद्रोण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + मिति (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'measure beginning with droṇa'
भवेत्would be/should be
भवेत्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√भू (धातु)
FormOptative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular
विस्तार-आद्यम्(that) beginning with breadth
विस्तार-आद्यम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootविस्तार (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; 'beginning with breadth' (as a set)
गुलानिgulas (units)
गुलानि:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootगुल (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Plural; unit-name 'gula' (measure)
एवम्thus
एवम्:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम् (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; adverb 'thus/in this way'
मिथःmutually
मिथः:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootमिथस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
FormAvyaya; adverb 'mutually'
घ्नानिcanceling/offsetting
घ्नानि:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootघ्न (कृदन्त; √हन् धातु)
FormNeuter, Nominative/Accusative, Plural; present participial/agentive derivative 'striking/canceling' used adjectivally with implied 'मानानि' (measures)
अपसाम्of water
अपसाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootअप् (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; 'of waters'
भवेत्should be
भवेत्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√भू (धातु)
FormOptative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

Narada (teaching in a technical/dharma-measurement context)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

FAQs

It emphasizes that dharma and ritual action must be performed with precision—standardized measures (for liquids and quantities) protect the correctness of offerings and disciplined practice.

Indirectly: bhakti in the Purāṇic tradition is supported by correct pūjā and offerings; accurate measurement reflects sincerity and care in service, preventing negligence in devotional rites.

A practical, śāstra-based system of metrology used in ritual and dharma contexts—deriving larger and smaller units (e.g., droṇa, gulā) through proportional division using aṅgula as a reference.