Shloka 3

Chandaḥśāstra: Mātrā–Varṇa, Guru–Laghu, Gaṇa, and Metre Types

Devanagari script

व्यञ्जनान्तो विसर्गान्तौ दीर्घो युक्तपरो गुरुः / सानुस्वारश्च पादान्तो वा इत्युक्तो द्विमात्रकः

Transliteration

vyañjanānto visargāntau dīrgho yuktaparo guruḥ / sānusvāraśca pādānto vā ityukto dvimātrakaḥ

Translation

যে অক্ষর ব্যঞ্জনে শেষ হয়, বিসর্গ (ঃ)‑এ শেষ হয়, দীর্ঘ হয়, বা যুক্তব্যঞ্জনের দ্বারা অনুসৃত হয়—সে গুরু, অর্থাৎ দ্বিমাত্রিক। অনুস্বার (ং)‑যুক্ত অক্ষর এবং (ঐচ্ছিকভাবে) পাদান্তের অক্ষরও দ্বিমাত্রিক বলা হয়েছে।

Word by Word

• व्यञ्जनान्तः: ending in a consonant
• व्यञ्जनान्तः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; व्यञ्जनान्त = व्यञ्जनेन अन्तः यस्य (समास)

• विसर्गान्तौ: (two) ending in visarga
• विसर्गान्तौ: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विसर्गान्त = विसर्गेण अन्तः यस्य (समास)

• दीर्घः: long (vowel)
• दीर्घः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• युक्तपरः: having a conjunct/cluster following
• युक्तपरः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; युक्तपर = युक्तः परः यस्य/यत्र (समास)

• गुरुः: heavy (guru syllable)
• गुरुः: Pradhana-predicative (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सानुस्वारः: with anusvāra
• सानुस्वारः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/समास-पूर्वपद) + अनुस्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सानुस्वार = अनुस्वारयुक्तः (समास)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पादान्तः: at the end of a pāda (quarter-verse)
• पादान्तः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; पादान्त = पादस्य अन्तः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/निगमनार्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्तः: is said/called
• उक्तः: Pradhana-predicative (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वच् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (उक्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• द्विमात्रकः: having two mātrās (two time-units)
• द्विमात्रकः: Pradhana-predicative (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + क (तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विमात्रक = द्वे मात्रे अस्य (द्विगु-समास)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śabda-niyama: rules for determining guru syllables (dvimātraka) in chandas.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda as a disciplined vehicle of meaning; purity of transmission (śruti-smṛti style) through correct recitation.

Application: Use these criteria (consonant/visarga/long vowel/cluster/anusvāra/pāda-end option) to scan verses and maintain correct rhythm in pāṭha.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.207 (chandas/prastāra context); Garuda Purana 1.208 (metre definitions continuing)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of guru (heavy) syllables in the Garuda Purana?

This verse gives the technical rule-set for identifying a guru syllable (two mātrās), which is essential for correctly scanning, reciting, and preserving the Purana’s metrical structure.

How does this verse define when a syllable becomes guru (dvimātraka)?

It states that a syllable is heavy if it ends in a consonant or visarga, contains a long vowel, is followed by a consonant cluster, has anusvāra, and (optionally) if it occurs at the end of a pāda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use these rules to chant Garuda Purana verses with correct rhythm and timing, improving accuracy in memorization, teaching, and digital text/audio archiving.