Shloka 16

Devanagari script

भुजङ्गप्रयातं वृत्तं चतुभिर्यैः प्रकीर्तितम् / प्रयंवदा नभज्रैश्च मणिमाला तयौ तयौ

Transliteration

bhujaṅgaprayātaṃ vṛttaṃ catubhiryaiḥ prakīrtitam / prayaṃvadā nabhajraiśca maṇimālā tayau tayau

Translation

The metre called “Bhujaṅga-prayāta” is declared to be made of four feet. Likewise, the metres named “Prayaṃvadā” and “Nabhajra”, and also “Maṇimālā”, are each of that same fourfold type.

Word by Word

• भुजङ्ग-प्रयातम्: (the metre) Bhujaṅgaprayāta
• भुजङ्ग-प्रयातम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुजङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रयात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; छन्दोनाम (metre-name)

• वृत्तम्: metre (vṛtta)
• वृत्तम्: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चतुभिः: by four (units)
• चतुभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण

• यैः: by which
• यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• प्रकीर्तितम्: is proclaimed/defined
• प्रकीर्तितम्: Kriya / Predicate (as ‘is proclaimed’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + कीर्त् (धातु) → प्रकीर्तित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त

• प्रयंवदा: (the metre) Prayaṃvadā
• प्रयंवदा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयंवदा (छन्दोनाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नभ-ज्रैः: by the gaṇas ‘nabha’ and ‘jra’
• नभ-ज्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभ (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्र (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; छन्दोगण-सूचक

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

• मणि-माला: (the metre) Maṇimālā
• मणि-माला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; छन्दोनाम

• तयौ: (the gaṇas) ta and yau
• तयौ: Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तयौ (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; gaṇa-pair

• तयौ: ta and yau (again)
• तयौ: Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तयौ (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Taxonomy of metres: Bhujaṅga-prayāta and related metres share a four-unit/foot structure.

Vedantic Theme: Order (ṛta-like regularity) expressed through śabda-śāstra; knowledge by grouping (saṅgraha).

Application: When scanning/teaching chandas, treat Prayaṃvadā, Nabhajra, and Maṇimālā as structurally parallel to Bhujaṅga-prayāta (four pādas), aiding memorization and composition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.209.15-19 (series of metre names and gaṇa-codes)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse highlights that the Purana also preserves technical guidance on chandas, helping ensure accurate chanting and faithful transmission of the text during recitation.

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

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it provides prosodic classification, supporting correct recitation of the surrounding teachings that do address dharma, death rites, and afterlife doctrines.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use this as a cue to pay attention to metre when learning or reciting Garuda Purana verses—proper rhythm and structure improve memorization, clarity, and traditional correctness in study or ritual readings.