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

A pāda is to be understood as a quarter-part. When the metrical feet are properly joined (yukta), the metre is called “sama” (even) or “viṣama” (uneven). Among vṛttas, one is “sama”, another “ardhasama” (half-even), and the third is “viṣama” (uneven).

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.