Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 116

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

Devanagari script

दोर्ज्योत्तरगुणाभुक्तिस्तत्त्वनेत्रोद्धृता पुनः । स्वमंदपरिधिक्षुण्णा भगणांशोद्धृताःकलाः ॥ ११६ ॥

Transliteration

dorjyottaraguṇābhuktistattvanetroddhṛtā punaḥ | svamaṃdaparidhikṣuṇṇā bhagaṇāṃśoddhṛtāḥkalāḥ || 116 ||

Translation

தோர்ஜ்யாவிற்கு உயர்குணத்தைப் பொருத்தி கிடைக்கும் புக்தியை மீண்டும் ‘தத்த்வ-நேத்ர’ முறையால் எடுத்திட வேண்டும். பின்னர் சுய மந்த-திருத்தமும் சுற்றளவு ஒத்திசைவும் செய்து, பகண-அம்சத்திலிருந்து கலா (நிமிடங்கள்) பெறப்படும்.

Word by Word

• दोर्-ज्या-उत्तर-गुण-अ-भुक्तिः: the computed motion based on the chord and the higher multiplier
• दोर्-ज्या-उत्तर-गुण-अ-भुक्तिः: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोर्/दोः (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्या (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + अभुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; technical term: ‘abhukti’ (computed motion) with qualifiers

• तत्त्व-नेत्र-उद्धृता: extracted by the true divisor
• तत्त्व-नेत्र-उद्धृता: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘अभुक्तिः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धृत (कृदन्त; उद्+√हृ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (PPP: ‘extracted by the true/standard divisor’)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/क्रमवाचक (adverb: ‘again/further’)

• स्व-मन्द-परिधि-क्षुण्णाः: multiplied by its own slow circumference
• स्व-मन्द-परिधि-क्षुण्णाः: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘कलाः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + परिधि (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षुण्ण (कृदन्त; √क्षुद्/√क्षुण्ण)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (PPP: ‘multiplied/struck by its own slow circumference’)

• भगण-अंश-उद्धृताः: divided by the bhagaṇa portions
• भगण-अंश-उद्धृताः: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘कलाः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भगण (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धृत (कृदन्त; उद्+√हृ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (PPP: ‘divided by the bhagaṇa parts’)

• कलाः: minutes/parts
• कलाः: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on technical calculation)

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?

It frames precise time-reckoning (kāla-nirṇaya) as a disciplined śāstric tool—supporting correct observance of dharma (vrata, tithi, muhūrta) that ultimately aids steadiness of mind on the path of mokṣa.

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

Indirectly: by teaching accurate calendrical/astronomical computation, it safeguards correct timing of Vaiṣṇava observances (fasts, pūjā, festivals), which strengthens regular bhakti practice through properly aligned ritual time.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa: computational astronomy—using chord-based measures, manda (anomaly) correction, circumference relations, and converting bhagaṇa portions into kalā (minutes) for precise planetary/time calculations.