Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

ज्ञेयः पादश्च तुर्यांशो युक् समं विषमन्त्वयुक् / सममर्धसमं वृत्तं विषमञ्च तृतीयकम्

Transliteration

jñeyaḥ pādaśca turyāṃśo yuk samaṃ viṣamantvayuk / samamardhasamaṃ vṛttaṃ viṣamañca tṛtīyakam

Translation

Man soll wissen, dass ein Pāda ein Viertelteil ist. Sind die metrischen Füße richtig verbunden (yukta), heißt das Metrum „sama“ (gleich) oder „viṣama“ (ungleich). Unter den vṛtta gibt es „sama“, „ardhasama“ (halbgleich) und als drittes „viṣama“ (ungleich).

Word by Word

• ज्ञेयः: to be known/should be known
• ज्ञेयः: Pradhana-predicative (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु) तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (ज्ञेय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेयार्थक (gerundive: ‘to be known’)

• पादः: pāda (quarter-verse)
• पादः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• तुर्यांशः: a fourth part
• तुर्यांशः: Pradhana-predicative (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तुर्यांश = तुर्यः अंशः (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भाव)

• युक्: yuk (a metrical type/term)
• युक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक् (प्रातिपदिक; छन्दः-परिभाषा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; छन्दः-शब्द (technical term)

• समम्: evenly; equal
• समम्: Karma/Prayojana (Adverbial complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् प्रयोग (adverbial accusative)

• विषमम्: uneven; irregular
• विषमम्: Karma/Prayojana (Adverbial complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् प्रयोग

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but)

• अयुक्: not-yuk (a contrasting metrical term)
• अयुक्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (निषेध-उपसर्ग) + युक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्-भाव (negated technical term)

• समम्: even
• समम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र विशेषणरूपेण (as qualifier)

• अर्धसमम्: half-even; partly even
• अर्धसमम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अर्धसम = अर्धेन समम् (समास)

• वृत्तम्: metre; verse-form
• वृत्तम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विषमम्: uneven
• विषमम्: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विषम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

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

• तृतीयकम्: the third type
• तृतीयकम्: Pradhana-predicative (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक) + क (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तृतीयक = तृतीय-प्रकारः (third kind)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Chandas taxonomy: pāda as quarter; metres classified by symmetry—sama, ardhasama, viṣama—based on joining/arrangement of feet.

Vedantic Theme: Order (ṛta-like regularity) expressed through linguistic form; symmetry as a carrier of intelligibility.

Application: When composing/reciting, identify whether a metre is sama/ardhasama/viṣama by comparing pādas; use this to verify correctness and choose appropriate cadence.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.207.3-4 (syllable weight and irregularities); Garuda Purana 1.208.1-2 (Āryā metre specifics)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of classifying metres (sama, ardhasama, viṣama) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse gives a core prosodic framework—metres are identified by how the pādas (quarters) are arranged as even, half-even, or uneven—supporting correct chanting and textual preservation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This specific verse does not describe the soul’s journey; it belongs to a technical section on chandas (metre), ensuring accurate transmission and recitation of Purāṇic teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the sama/ardhasama/viṣama categories to chant verses with correct rhythm and to catalogue or verify manuscripts by metre, improving accuracy in study and recitation.