Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

ग्मध्ये द्वितुर्यौ जौ चपला मुखपूर्वादिचापला / द्वितीयार्धे सजघना आर्याजातेश्च लक्षणम्

Transliteration

gmadhye dvituryau jau capalā mukhapūrvādicāpalā / dvitīyārdhe sajaghanā āryājāteśca lakṣaṇam

Translation

When, in the middle, there are two turyās and two ja-groups, the (gāthā/āryā) metre is called Capalā (“swift”). If the second half bears the mark of sajaghanā (a prominent hip-region), that is the defining sign of the Āryā-jāti (Āryā metre-class).

Word by Word

• ग्मध्ये: in the middle
• ग्मध्ये: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘मध्ये’ = in the middle

• द्वितुर्यौ: the two ‘turyas’ (two turyas)
• द्वितुर्यौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + तुर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; द्विगुसमासः (द्वि+तुर्य)

• जौ: the two ‘ja’ (jau)
• जौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन

• चपला: capalā (name/term)
• चपला: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चपल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मुखपूर्वादि: (those) beginning with mukha and pūrva etc.
• मुखपूर्वादि: Sambandha (Genitival/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समाहार/समुच्चयार्थक तत्पुरुषः (‘mukha-pūrva-ādi’ = beginning with mukha and pūrva etc.)

• चापला: Capalā (a metrical type/name)
• चापला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चपल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘चपला’ इति नाम

• द्वितीयार्धे: in the second half
• द्वितीयार्धे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘second half’)

• सजघना: having (the) jaghana (term/name)
• सजघना: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स- (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद) + जघन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘with jaghana/hips’)

• आर्याजातेः: of the Āryā metre-class
• आर्याजातेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्या (प्रातिपदिक) + जाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (‘of the āryā-jāti’)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• लक्षणम्: characteristic/definition
• लक्षणम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Lakṣaṇa (defining marks) and bheda (classification) of Āryā-jāti and capalā by internal gaṇa/mātrā structure.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discernment) through precise definition; śāstra as pramāṇa for ordered knowledge.

Application: Use the stated markers (turyas, ja-groups, second-half feature) to identify and compose Āryā-jāti/capalā verses accurately.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.208.4-7 (continuation of Āryā-jāti subtypes and lakṣaṇas)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of āryā-jāti lakṣaṇa in Garuda Purana?

This verse gives a technical definition used to classify verses by metre (āryā-jāti), helping preserve correct recitation, transmission, and textual accuracy.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not discuss afterlife doctrine here; instead, it shifts to a technical, instructional section on metrical classification (chandas) within the text’s broader encyclopedic scope.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use these markers (turyā/ja-gaṇa placement and second-half structure) to verify metre while chanting or editing manuscripts, improving pronunciation rhythm and reducing textual corruption.