Shloka 28

Nāmāṣṭottara-dviśata: Gaṇa–Chandas–Yati Catalogue and Mnemonic Coding

Devanagari script

स्वरात्खं वृषभगजजृम्भितं भ्रनना नगौ / नजभजरा वाणिनी गः पिङ्गलेनाष्टिरीरिता

Transliteration

svarātkhaṃ vṛṣabhagajajṛmbhitaṃ bhrananā nagau / najabhajarā vāṇinī gaḥ piṅgalenāṣṭirīritā

Translation

This mystic syllabic sequence—beginning with “svarāt-khaṃ” and including sounds such as “vṛṣabha”, “gaja”, and “jṛmbhita”—is taught as a measured phonetic formula; thus Piṅgala explains the utterance (vāṇī) in an eightfold manner.

Word by Word

• स्वरात्: from svara (sound/tone)
• स्वरात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे पञ्चमी एकवचनम् (ablative)

• खम्: kha (space/sky; here a term)
• खम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• वृषभगजजृम्भितम्: (a metre) Vṛṣabhagajajṛmbhita
• वृषभगजजृम्भितम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ+गज+जृम्भित (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (वृषभ-गज-जृम्भितम्); नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• भ्रनना: (a metre) Bhranānā
• भ्रनना: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रनना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (छन्दोनाम)

• नगौ: (metre-gana) na-gau
• नगौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विवचनान्त-रूपम्; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया द्विवचनम् (छन्दोगणनाम)

• नजभजरा: (a metre) Najabhajarā
• नजभजरा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नज+भजरा (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमासः (नज + भजरा); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• वाणिनी: (a metre) Vāṇinī
• वाणिनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाणिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• गः: ga (a metrical unit/name)
• गः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• पिङ्गलेन: by Piṅgala
• पिङ्गलेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया एकवचनम्

• अष्टिः: Aṣṭi (name of a metre)
• अष्टिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• ईरिता: declared / stated
• ईरिता: Kriya (Predicate/क्रियाविशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईर् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः (past passive participle); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda, citing Piṅgala)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Phonetic/metrical formulae (gaṇa strings) are systematically taught; tradition (ācārya-paramparā) validates and clarifies arcane sequences.

Vedantic Theme: Āgama/paramparā as a vehicle of reliable knowledge; order (niyama) transforms raw sound into meaningful śabda.

Application: Use Piṅgala-style eightfold parsing to teach students scansion; apply as a method to decode mnemonic strings into metrical structure.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.209.28 (Piṅgala and eightfold explanation); Piṅgala Chandaḥśāstra (aṣṭa-prakāra/gaṇa-based pedagogy; broad parallel)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Piṅgala

FAQs

What is the importance of phonetic precision (śabda-śuddhi) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames speech/utterance as an ordered, teachable system; in ritual contexts, correct sound-patterns are treated as essential for the intended spiritual efficacy.

How does this verse connect to Garuda Purana ritual practice?

By presenting an ‘eightfold’ explained method of utterance attributed to Piṅgala, it supports the idea that recitation is not casual but governed by specific phonetic groupings used in rites and readings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When chanting or reading sacred texts, learn proper pronunciation (IAST/teacher-guided), keep steady rhythm, and avoid careless sound substitutions—treat recitation as disciplined practice.