Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 76

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

Devanagari script

शनिपातस्य भगणाः कल्पे यमरसर्तवः । वर्तमानयुगे पानावत्सराभगणाभिधाः ॥ ७६ ॥

Transliteration

śanipātasya bhagaṇāḥ kalpe yamarasartavaḥ | vartamānayuge pānāvatsarābhagaṇābhidhāḥ || 76 ||

Translation

ในหนึ่งกัลปะ วงรอบ (ภคณะ) ที่เกี่ยวกับปาตะของเสาร์เรียกด้วยนาม ‘ยมะ–รสะ–ฤตวะห์’; ส่วนในยุคปัจจุบันเรียกด้วยชื่อกำกับว่า ‘ปานาวัตสรา-ภคณะ’.

Word by Word

• śani-pātasya: of the Saturn-fall (śanipāta)
• śani-pātasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śani (प्रातिपदिक) + pāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śaneḥ pātaḥ = ‘Saturn’s fall/setting’)

• bhagaṇāḥ: groups/constellational cycles (bhagaṇas)
• bhagaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• kalpe: in (a) kalpa
• kalpe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• yama-rasa-ṛtavaḥ: Yama, Rasa, and the seasons (ṛtus) (as a named set)
• yama-rasa-ṛtavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक) + rasa (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛtu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; बहुपद-द्वन्द्व (name-list)

• vartamāna-yuge: in the present yuga
• vartamāna-yuge: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vartamāna (कृदन्त; √vṛt वर्त्) + yuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (vartamānaṃ yugaṃ = the present age)

• pāna-āvatsara-bhagaṇa-abhidhāḥ: called Pāna, Āvatsara, and Bhagaṇa (i.e., bearing those names)
• pāna-āvatsara-bhagaṇa-abhidhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāna (प्रातिपदिक) + āvatsara (प्रातिपदिक) + bhagaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + abhidhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (abhidhāḥ = ‘named/called’ with specification of names)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a technical enumeration of time/astronomical reckoning)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Shani (Saturn)

FAQs

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

It frames cosmic time (Kalpa/Yuga) as a measurable, ordered structure; such time-reckoning supports dharma by correctly situating rites, vows, and observances within the sacred calendar.

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

Indirectly: by emphasizing accurate calendrical knowledge, it safeguards proper timing of devotional observances (vratas, fasts, and worship), which are core supports for steady Vishnu-bhakti in Purāṇic practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa—technical nomenclature for astronomical cycles (bhagaṇa) and the distinction between Kalpa-level and present-Yuga designations, used for calendrical computation.