Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

आदितः सप्तमे ह्रस्वा द्वितीयार्धे शरे ततः / त्रिगणाङ्घ्रिश्च पथ्या स्याद्विपुला वह्निलङ्घनात्

Transliteration

āditaḥ saptame hrasvā dvitīyārdhe śare tataḥ / trigaṇāṅghriśca pathyā syādvipulā vahnilaṅghanāt

Translation

In diesem Metrum soll die siebte Silbe vom Anfang her kurz (hrasva) sein; in der zweiten Hälfte folgt nach dem Muster „śara“ die Kadenz „trigaṇāṅghri“. Die Zeile heißt dann „pathyā“ (regelmäßig), und wenn die Schranke „vahnilaṅghana“ (das Überschreiten des „Feuers“) übertreten wird, nennt man sie „vipulā“ (erweiterte Variante).

Word by Word

आदितःfrom the beginning

सप्तमेin the seventh (position)

ह्रस्वाshort (syllable)

द्वितीयार्धेin the second half

शरेin ‘śara’ (technical position/term)

ततःthen

त्रिगणाङ्घ्रिःhaving three gaṇas as feet

चand

पथ्याpathyā (a variety)

स्यात्would be/should be

विपुलाvipulā (a variety)

वह्निलङ्घनात्from/owing to the ‘vahni’ crossing (rule)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda, within a didactic/prosody section)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Āryā cadence rules: seventh syllable short; second-half patterning; distinction between regular (pathyā) and expanded (vipulā) by constraint overstep.

Vedantic Theme: Discipline with sanctioned variation: freedom within form; order that accommodates controlled exceptions.

Application: When scanning Āryā, verify the 7th syllable is short and check second-half cadence; label lines as pathyā or vipulā based on the stated constraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.208.1 (Āryā gaṇa constraints); Garuda Purana 1.207.3 (guru/laghu basics)

Characters & Entities

Vishnu

Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse highlights that correct metre—such as identifying pathyā vs. vipulā—preserves the intended cadence for accurate chanting and textual transmission.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s teaching style?

It shows the Purana also contains technical, instructional material—here, rules of anuṣṭubh prosody—presented as guidance within the Vishnu–Garuda dialogue framework.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When reciting Garuda Purana shlokas, pay attention to syllable length and standard vs. variant cadences so chanting remains metrically correct and easier to memorize.