Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

बाणाष्टनवकेषु स्याल्लश्चित्रा षोडशात्मिका / सममात्रासमादिष्टं पदाकुलकमीरितम्

Transliteration

bāṇāṣṭanavakeṣu syāllaścitrā ṣoḍaśātmikā / samamātrāsamādiṣṭaṃ padākulakamīritam

Translation

In der Anordnung der Silben, die als „Pfeil–acht–neun“ gezählt werden, heißt es, das Metrum Citrā bestehe aus sechzehn Einheiten. Wenn gleiche mātrās (Zeitmaße) vorgeschrieben sind, wird es als die metrische Form Padākulaka bezeichnet.

Word by Word

• बाणाष्टनवकेषु: in the groups of 5, 8, and 9
• बाणाष्टनवकेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण + अष्ट + नवक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (बाण-अष्ट-नवक = 5-8-9-समूह)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• लः: ‘la’ (letter/marker)
• लः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ल (प्रातिपदिक/वर्ण-नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संज्ञा (वर्ण-नाम)

• चित्रा: variegated, ‘citrā’ (name/quality)
• चित्रा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• षोडशात्मिका: consisting of sixteen
• षोडशात्मिका: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश + आत्मिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षोडश-आत्मिका = षोडशस्वरूपा)

• सममात्रासमादिष्टम्: prescribed with equal mātrās
• सममात्रासमादिष्टम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम + मात्रा + समादिष्ट (सम्-आ-√दिश्) (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त), विशेषण; तत्पुरुष-समास (समाः मात्राः यस्मिन्/येन समादिष्टम्)

• पदाकुलकम्: a cluster/collection of padas
• पदाकुलकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद + आकुलक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (पदानाम् आकुलकम्)

• ईरितम्: is declared
• ईरितम्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईरित (ईर्/√ईर्) (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) — ‘said/declared’ (कर्मणि/भावे)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Metre-identification by numeric syllable/mātrā schemes: Citrā as sixteen units; equal mātrās define Padākulaka.

Vedantic Theme: Order (ṛta-like regularity) reflected in disciplined speech; knowledge as alignment with rule.

Application: When scanning a verse, verify sixteen-unit structure for Citrā; if mātrās are equalized throughout, classify/recite as Padākulaka.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.208.13 (vānavāsikā definition by doubling); Garuda Purana 1.208.15 (guru-laghu/mātrā standards)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of chandas (metre) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse shows that the text also preserves technical rules of Sanskrit prosody, helping readers chant and transmit the Purana accurately through defined mātrā and syllable patterns.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

It does not describe the soul’s journey directly; instead, it gives a prosodic rule, indicating that alongside afterlife teachings the Garuda Purana includes structured, technical instruction for correct recitation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use the metre guidance to chant or study the Garuda Purana with correct rhythm (equal mātrās), improving pronunciation, memorization, and fidelity to the traditional oral transmission.