Shloka 17

Āryā-Chandas Lakṣaṇa; Gīti-Bheda; Vaitālīya-Vaktra; Mātrā-to-Varṇa Transition

Devanagari script

षोडशानङ्गक्रीडा गा द्वात्रिंशच्चरमे च लाः / सप्तविंशातिला गन्ता दलयो रुचिरा द्वयोः

Transliteration

ṣoḍaśānaṅgakrīḍā gā dvātriṃśaccarame ca lāḥ / saptaviṃśātilā gantā dalayo rucirā dvayoḥ

Translation

ستة عشر هي «ananga‑krīḍā» أي ألعاب الهوى؛ واثنان وثلاثون هي الصيغ الختامية المسماة «lāḥ». وسبعة وعشرون هي «atilā» أي ما يمضي قُدُمًا؛ وأمّا «dalaya» فهي في أزواج، لطيفةٌ بهيّة.

Word by Word

• षोडशानङ्गक्रीडा: (pattern/metre) ‘ṣoḍaśānaṅgakrīḍā’
• षोडशानङ्गक्रीडा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षोडश + अनङ्ग + क्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षोडश-अनङ्ग-क्रीडा = ‘sixteen-cupid-sport’ नाम)

• गाः: ‘gā’ (markers)
• गाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गा (प्रातिपदिक/वर्ण-नाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग/अव्यक्त, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संज्ञा (वर्ण/चिह्न-नाम)

• द्वात्रिंशत्: thirty-two
• द्वात्रिंशत्: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वात्रिंशत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक

• चरमे: in the last (section)
• चरमे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चरम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुं, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• लाः: ‘lā’ (markers)
• लाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ला (प्रातिपदिक/वर्ण-नाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग/अव्यक्त, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संज्ञा

• सप्तविंशातिला: the ‘lā’ at twenty-seven
• सप्तविंशातिला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तविंशति + ला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तविंशत्याः ला)

• गन्ता: is to occur/be placed
• गन्ता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्तृ (√गम्) (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृच्-कृदन्त

• दलयोः: of/in the two halves
• दलयोः: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; संज्ञा

• रुचिरा: beautiful, pleasing
• रुचिरा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुचिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• द्वयोः: of the two
• द्वयोः: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; संख्यावाचक

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Taxonomy of counted forms (sixteen, thirty-two, twenty-seven) and paired ‘dalaya’—a systematization of rhythmic/metrical categories.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma-rūpa classification: ordering experience through names and numbers for clarity of practice.

Application: Use the enumerations as a mnemonic index while learning the associated forms (kriyā/recitation patterns), especially paired ‘dalaya’ structures.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.208.13-16 (continuing numeric/prosodic and timing catalog)

Characters & Entities

• Ananga (Kama)

FAQs

What is the importance of these numerical classifications in the Garuda Purana?

This verse preserves a technical enumeration—counting specific categories by name—used to systematize a topic within the chapter, helping practitioners and reciters follow an exact traditional framework.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Directly, it does not describe the soul’s journey; rather, it presents a structured list of categories within the chapter’s subject matter, which in the Garuda Purana often supports correct understanding and practice of dharma-related teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat scriptural instructions as precise: when studying or performing any traditional observance, follow authentic enumerations and definitions carefully instead of relying on vague or generalized summaries.