Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

विंशकुदीपौच्चगुणाच्छाया शंकूद्धृता भवेत् । दीपशंक्वंतरं चाथ च्छायाग्रविवरघ्नभा ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

viṃśakudīpauccaguṇācchāyā śaṃkūddhṛtā bhavet | dīpaśaṃkvaṃtaraṃ cātha cchāyāgravivaraghnabhā || 58 ||

Translation

दीपौच्चस्य विंशतिगुणाच्छाया शङ्कुना मिता ग्राह्या। ततश्च दीप-शङ्क्वन्तरं च्छायाग्रपर्यन्तविवरघ्नया भासा निर्धार्येत्।

Word by Word

• विंशकु-दीप-औच्य-गुणात्: from twenty times the lamp-height
• विंशकु-दीप-औच्य-गुणात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विंशकु (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + दीप (प्रातिपदिक) + औच्य/उच्च (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'from the factor (multiple) of twenty of the lamp-height'

• छाया: shadow
• छाया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• शङ्कु-उद्धृता: cast/raised by the gnomon
• शङ्कु-उद्धृता: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शङ्कु (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धृत (कृदन्त; √उद्-हृ धातु)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular; तत्पुरुष: 'drawn/raised by the gnomon' qualifying 'छाया'

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• दीप-शङ्कु-अन्तरम्: the interval between lamp and gnomon
• दीप-शङ्कु-अन्तरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक) + शङ्कु (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; 'distance between lamp and gnomon'

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

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; sequential particle

• छाया-अग्र-विवर-घ्न-भा: the (factor) determining the opening at the shadow’s tip
• छाया-अग्र-विवर-घ्न-भा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाया (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विवर (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (कृदन्त; √हन् धातु) + भा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: 'light/measure that determines the aperture at the tip of the shadow' (reading/meaning uncertain)

Speaker

Narada (in instructional mode within a technical/observational passage)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

FAQs

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

It highlights that dharma is supported by pramāṇa (reliable measurement): correct observation and calculation are treated as aids to right practice and disciplined living.

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing precision and order, it supports well-performed religious observances; in Purāṇic practice, careful method strengthens sincerity and steadiness in worship.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa-style applied measurement using a śaṅku (gnomon) and shadow-length relationships—useful for observational calculations connected with timing and spatial determination.