Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 174

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

Devanagari script

एकायनगतौ स्यातां सूर्याचन्द्रमसौ यदा । तयुते मंडले क्रांत्यौ तुल्यत्वे वै धृताभिधः ॥ १७४ ॥

Transliteration

ekāyanagatau syātāṃ sūryācandramasau yadā | tayute maṃḍale krāṃtyau tulyatve vai dhṛtābhidhaḥ || 174 ||

Translation

เมื่อดวงอาทิตย์และดวงจันทร์ดำเนินไปในอายนะเดียวกัน และในมณฑลนั้นค่าลองจิจูด (กรานติ) เท่ากัน โยคะนั้นเรียกว่า “ธฤตะ”

Word by Word

• eka-ayana-gatau: having the same ayana (course/solstitial path)
• eka-ayana-gatau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + ayana (प्रातिपदिक) + gata (कृदन्त; √gam गतौ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-द्विवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त), ‘गatau’ = गतौ (Nom.Dual.Masc) qualifying sūrya-candramasau

• syātām: may be / should be
• syātām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; ‘may they be’

• sūrya-candramasau: the Sun and the Moon
• sūrya-candramasau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūrya (प्रातिपदिक) + candramas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (itaretara-dvandva)

• yadā: when
• yadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• tad-yute: in that (same) endowed/connected (state)
• tad-yute: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + yuta (कृदन्त; √yuj योजने)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-एकवचन; कृदन्त (क्त) used adjectivally; ‘in the circle endowed with that’

• maṇḍale: in the circle/orbit
• maṇḍale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-एकवचन

• krāntyau: the two longitudes/declinations (krānti)
• krāntyau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krānti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-द्विवचन

• tulyatve: in equality
• tulyatve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tulyatva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-एकवचन; भाववाचक (abstract noun)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• dhṛta-abhidhaḥ: called “Dhṛta”
• dhṛta-abhidhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhṛta (कृदन्त; √dhṛ धारणे) + abhidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचन; ‘having the designation/name held’ i.e., ‘called dhṛta’

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Surya
• Chandra

FAQs

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

It frames sacred time as measurable and intelligible through Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa, so that dharma and worship can be performed in harmony with cosmic order (ṛta).

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

By identifying a specific auspicious time-condition (Dhṛta), it supports bhakti practice through proper kāla-niyama—choosing suitable times for pūjā, vrata, japa, and other devotional observances.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa: determining a named yoga/time-condition via the Sun and Moon’s relative motion and the equality of their celestial longitudes (krānti) in the maṇḍala.