Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

घनं च विषमादेवं घनमूलं मुर्हुभवेत् । अन्योन्यहारनिहतौ हरांशौ तु समुच्छिदा ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

ghanaṃ ca viṣamādevaṃ ghanamūlaṃ murhubhavet | anyonyahāranihatau harāṃśau tu samucchidā || 21 ||

Translation

如是，当从奇数取其立方（幂）时，依所授之法可反复得其立方根。又当除数与被除数（或其部分）以彼此之除数相互消去时，除数与分数之余分皆被彻底约尽（相消）。

Word by Word

• घनम्: cube
• घनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• विषमात्: from the odd (term)
• विषमात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विषम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• घन-मूलम्: cube-root
• घन-मूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घन (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘cube-root’

• मुहुः: repeatedly
• मुहुः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of frequency)

• भवेत्: should become/occur
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• अन्योन्य-हार-निहतौ: in the case of mutual division/reduction (of two)
• अन्योन्य-हार-निहतौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + हार (प्रातिपदिक) + नि + हन् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (determinative chain); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, द्विवचन; ‘when (two) are mutually divided and reduced/struck’

• हर-अंशौ: the divisor-parts (two terms)
• हर-अंशौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘divisor-parts’

• तु: however
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ

• समुच्छिदा: by complete elimination/cancellation
• समुच्छिदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + उच्छिद् (धातु) + घञ्/आ (प्रातिपदिक: समुच्छिद्/समुच्छिदा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (instrumental), एकवचन; साधनवाचक (by means of complete cutting off/elimination)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in an instructional sequence)

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 shows that Moksha-oriented instruction in the Narada Purana also preserves shastric discipline: clarity of method, repeated practice, and precise reduction—habits that support steadiness of mind for dharma and liberation.

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

Indirectly: the verse models careful, rule-based practice (abhyāsa). The same steadiness and exactness are expected in Vishnu-bhakti—regular repetition and removal of “remainders” like doubt and distraction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights computational procedure—cube-root extraction and cancellation/reduction of parts—skills aligned with the technical tradition that supports Vedanga disciplines (especially Jyotisha’s arithmetic foundations).