Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

षोडशलो ऽचलधृतिर्मात्रासमकमुच्यते

Transliteration

ṣoḍaśalo 'caladhṛtirmātrāsamakamucyate

Translation

A metre of sixteen syllables is called Acaladhṛti, and it is declared to be equal in mātrās (time-units).

Word by Word

• षोडशलः: sixteen-syllabled / of sixteen
• षोडशलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संख्याविशेषणम्

• अचलधृतिः: (metre) Acaladhṛti
• अचलधृतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अचल + धृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयसमासः (अचला धृतिः)

• मात्रासमकम्: equal in mātrās (morae)
• मात्रासमकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मात्रा + समक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (मात्रया समकम्)

• उच्यते: is said/called
• उच्यते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (वच् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A named metre is defined by syllable count and mātrā-equivalence; naming stabilizes knowledge for transmission.

Vedantic Theme: nāma-rūpa (name-form) as a structuring principle of cognition: form (count/mātrā) receives name (Acaladhṛti).

Application: In composing/reciting, verify sixteen syllables and mātrā balance to correctly employ Acaladhṛti.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.208.9; Garuda Purana 1.208.10

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of Acaladhṛti in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines Acaladhṛti as a sixteen-syllable metre with equal mātrā-count, helping preserve correct recitation and textual transmission.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it provides a prosodic rule, supporting accurate chanting of teachings elsewhere in the Garuda Purana on death rites and afterlife.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a recitation guideline: maintain equal mātrā timing when chanting verses in this metre to keep pronunciation, rhythm, and memorization precise.