Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 109

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मदेवमनोर्मानं पित्र्यं सौरं च सावनम् । चांद्रमार्क्षं गुरोर्मानमिति मानानि वै नव ॥ १०९ ॥

Transliteration

brahmadevamanormānaṃ pitryaṃ sauraṃ ca sāvanam | cāṃdramārkṣaṃ gurormānamiti mānāni vai nava || 109 ||

Translation

มาตรวัดกาลมีเก้าประการ คือ มาตรของพระพรหม มาตรของเหล่าเทวะ มาตรของมนู มาตรของปิตฤ มาตรสุริยะ มาตรสาวนะ (สามัญ) มาตรจันทรา มาตรนักษัตร และมาตรของพระพฤหัสบดี

Word by Word

• brahma-deva-manoḥ-mānam: the measure (system) of Brahmā/Devas/Manu
• brahma-deva-manoḥ-mānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक) + manu (प्रातिपदिक) + māna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter/नपुंसक), Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa (multi-member): 'brahmaṇaḥ devasya manoḥ mānam' (measure of Brahmā, of the gods, of Manu)

• pitryam: ancestral (of the Pitṛs)
• pitryam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pitrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; adjective qualifying 'mānam' (ancestral/pitṛ-related)

• sauram: solar
• sauram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; adjective qualifying 'mānam' (solar)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samucchaya particle (conjunction/समुच्चय)

• sāvanam: sāvana (based on ritual days)
• sāvanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; adjective qualifying 'mānam' (sāvana/ritual-day based)

• cāndram-ārkṣam: lunar and stellar
• cāndram-ārkṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: cāndra (प्रातिपदिक) + ārkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; itaretara-dvandva: 'cāndraṃ ca ārkṣaṃ ca' (lunar and stellar)

• guroḥ-mānam: the measure of Guru (Jupiter)
• guroḥ-mānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक) + māna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: 'guroḥ mānam' (measure of Jupiter/Bṛhaspati)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (iti/इति), saṃjñā-uddeśa marker

• mānāni: measures, systems of reckoning
• mānāni: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Nipāta (particle/निपात), emphasis/assurance

• nava: nine
• nava: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; numeral adjective qualifying 'mānāni'

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-dharma dialogue context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Devas
• Manu
• Pitrs
• Surya
• Chandra
• Nakshatras
• Guru (Jupiter/Brihaspati)

FAQs

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

It frames kāla (time) as a sacred, multi-layered principle, showing that dharma and ritual precision depend on correctly understanding distinct cosmic and ritual time-standards.

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

While not directly preaching bhakti, it supports devotional life by grounding vrata, pūjā timings, and sacred observances in proper time-reckoning—helping devotion become disciplined and scripturally aligned.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa: it lists key māna systems (solar, lunar, sidereal, sāvana, etc.) used to compute tithis, nakṣatras, months, and ritual days in Vedic and Purāṇic practice.