Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 91

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

Devanagari script

बुधशुक्रार्कजाः पातैर्विक्षिप्यंते चतुर्गुणम् । राशिलिप्ताष्टमो भागः प्रथमं ज्यार्द्धमुच्यते ॥ ९१ ॥

Transliteration

budhaśukrārkajāḥ pātairvikṣipyaṃte caturguṇam | rāśiliptāṣṭamo bhāgaḥ prathamaṃ jyārddhamucyate || 91 ||

Translation

Budha (Mercúrio), Śukra (Vénus) e Arkajā (Saturno) devem ser ajustados pelos seus pāta (nodos) e então multiplicados por quatro. A oitava parte do rāśi, expressa em graus e minutos, chama-se a primeira meia-corda (jyā-ardha).

Word by Word

• बुध-शुक्र-अर्कजाः: Mercury, Venus, and Arkaja
• बुध-शुक्र-अर्कजाः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध + शुक्र + अर्कज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास: बुध, शुक्र, अर्कज (Mercury, Venus, Saturn ‘son of Sun’ in some traditions) as a group; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-बहुवचन (Masc., Nom., Pl.)

• पातैः: by the nodes/falls
• पातैः: करण (Karaṇa/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-बहुवचन (Instr., Pl.), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक (contextual) — ‘by the nodes/falls’

• विक्षिप्यन्ते: are deflected
• विक्षिप्यन्ते: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद — ‘are deflected’

• चतुर्गुणम्: fourfold
• चतुर्गुणम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: चतुर् + गुण ‘fourfold’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Neut., Acc., Sing.) — क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative)

• राशि-लिप्त-अष्टमः: the eighth (in sign-minutes)
• राशि-लिप्त-अष्टमः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राशि + लिप्त + अष्टम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: राशि (sign) + लिप्त (minutes) + अष्टम (eighth) → ‘eighth (part) in sign-minutes’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (Masc., Nom., Sing.) — भागः इति विशेषणम्

• भागः: portion/part
• भागः: कर्ता (Kartā/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन (Masc., Nom., Sing.)

• प्रथमम्: first
• प्रथमम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Neut., Acc., Sing.); क्रियाविशेषणवत् — ‘first(ly)’

• ज्या-अर्धम्: half-sine
• ज्या-अर्धम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्या (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ज्या + अर्ध ‘half-sine’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचन (Neut., Acc., Sing.)

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: क्रिया (Kriyā/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive) — ‘is called/said’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Budha
• Shukra
• Shani (Arkaja)
• Pata (node/apsis)

FAQs

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

It preserves Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa as a supportive discipline—showing that precise knowledge of time, celestial measures, and calculation can aid dharma-based life and scriptural observances, which ultimately support the pursuit of mokṣa.

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

Indirectly: by teaching the technical basis used to determine auspicious timings and calendrical measures, it supports orderly performance of vows, worship, and dharmic duties—practices that, when offered to Viṣṇu with devotion, become bhakti-oriented sādhanā.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa (astronomy/astrology) and gaṇita: it gives a computational rule involving planetary correction by pāta and defining the first jyā-ardha as one-eighth of a rāśi expressed in degrees and minutes.