Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 129

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

Devanagari script

तन्मध्ये स्थापयेच्छंकुं कल्पना द्द्वादशांगुलम् । तच्छायाग्रं स्पृशेद्यत्र दत्तं पूर्वापराह्णयोः ॥ १२९ ॥

Transliteration

tanmadhye sthāpayecchaṃkuṃ kalpanā ddvādaśāṃgulam | tacchāyāgraṃ spṛśedyatra dattaṃ pūrvāparāhṇayoḥ || 129 ||

Translation

ณ กึ่งกลางแห่งที่กำหนดนั้น พึงตั้งศังกุ (หลักตั้งตรง) ตามธรรมเนียมยาวสิบสององคุลี ครั้นในยามก่อนเที่ยงและหลังเที่ยง ที่ใดปลายเงาของมันแตะต้อง ที่นั่นพึงทำเครื่องหมายเป็นจุด.

Word by Word

• तत्: in that
• तत्: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• स्थापयेत्: should place
• स्थापयेत्: क्रिया (Kriya/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + णिच् (causative)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• शङ्कुम्: a peg/gnomon
• शङ्कुम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• कल्पनात्: by convention/according to prescription
• कल्पनात्: अपादान (Apadana/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्पना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादानार्थे (ablative of source/standard)

• द्वादशाङ्गुलम्: twelve-finger-units (twelve aṅgulas)
• द्वादशाङ्गुलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (संख्यापूर्वक) समास; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• तत्: of that
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• छाया: shadow
• छाया: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद-सम्बन्ध)

• अग्रम्: tip/end
• अग्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• स्पृशेत्: should touch
• स्पृशेत्: क्रिया (Kriya/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक-स्थानवाचक (relative adverb: where)

• दत्तम्: given/marked
• दत्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (past passive participle)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), भूतकर्मणि (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणवत् (used adjectivally)

• पूर्व: of the forenoon
• पूर्व: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• अपर: of the afternoon
• अपर: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; विशेषणम्

• अह्नोः: of the two day-times (forenoon & afternoon)
• अह्नोः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन

Speaker

Narada (teaching in a technical-practical instruction style within Moksha-dharma context)

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 emphasizes kāla-śuddhi (purity/accuracy of time): righteous acts like dāna and daily observances become more effective when performed at properly determined times.

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

By teaching precise discipline in daily conduct and offerings, it supports steady devotional life—bhakti is strengthened when worship and charity are aligned with proper time and order.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Jyotiṣa/Vedāṅga-based time determination using a chaṅku (gnomon): marking the shadow-tip in the forenoon and afternoon to establish reference points for timing rites.