Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 117

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

Devanagari script

मंदस्फुटकृता भुक्तिः शीघ्नोच्चभुक्तितः । तच्छेषं विवरेणाथ हन्यात्रिज्यांककर्णयोः ॥ ११७ ॥

Transliteration

maṃdasphuṭakṛtā bhuktiḥ śīghnoccabhuktitaḥ | taccheṣaṃ vivareṇātha hanyātrijyāṃkakarṇayoḥ || 117 ||

Translation

由慢行（manda）所成之弧量（bhukti），当取自迅疾而高（śīghra-ucca）之弧量；继而以所余差额为修正，调校三径（trijyā，半径）、数项（aṅka）与斜弦（karṇa，弦/斜边）之值。

Word by Word

• मन्द-स्फुट-कृता: produced by the slow (manda) correction
• मन्द-स्फुट-कृता: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘भुक्तिः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + स्फुट (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (PPP: ‘made by the slow correction/true position’)

• भुक्तिः: motion (bhukti)
• भुक्तिः: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शीघ्न-उच्च-भुक्तितः: from the fast-apogee motion
• शीघ्न-उच्च-भुक्तितः: अपादान (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीघ्न (प्रातिपदिक) + उच्च (प्रातिपदिक) + भुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; -तः (ablatival ending)

• तत्-शेषम्: that remainder
• तत्-शेषम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + शेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विवरेण: by the difference
• विवरेण: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (particle: ‘then/now’)

• हन्यात्: should multiply/strike
• हन्यात्: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्रिज्याम्: the radius
• त्रिज्याम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिज्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अङ्क-कर्णयोः: of the sine and the hypotenuse
• अङ्क-कर्णयोः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (‘of the sine and the hypotenuse/karṇa’)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in instruction to Narada on technical computation)

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 emphasizes that correct observance of dharma (including vratas and sacred timings) depends on precise knowledge; the Purana supports moksha-dharma by grounding practice in reliable jyotiṣa computation.

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

Indirectly: by teaching how to compute true motion and corrections, it safeguards proper determination of auspicious times for Vishnu-bhakti practices (such as vrata observance and worship), making devotion disciplined and scripturally aligned.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Vedāṅga Jyotiṣa and gaṇita: using manda (mean) and śīghra/ucca (anomalistic) components to derive sphuṭa (corrected) values, and applying the remainder/difference to adjust trijyā (radius) and karṇa (chord/diagonal) calculations.