Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

रसर्त्वश्वैर्यमौ न्सौ रौ मेघविस्फूर्जिता रगौ / शार्दूलविक्रीडितं मः सूर्यश्वैः सज्सतास्तगौ

Transliteration

rasartvaśvairyamau nsau rau meghavisphūrjitā ragau / śārdūlavikrīḍitaṃ maḥ sūryaśvaiḥ sajsatāstagau

Translation

By “rasa, seasons, and horses” are indicated yamau, nsau, rau; by Meghavisphūrjitā is indicated ragau; by Śārdūlavikrīḍita is indicated maḥ; and by “sun and horses” is indicated saj-satā-stagau. This is a metrical and phonetic catalogue, grouping gaṇa sound-patterns and the names of classical metres.

Word by Word

• रसर्त्वश्वैः: with rasa-seasons-horses (count-marker)
• रसर्त्वश्वैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋतु (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः (रस-ऋतु-अश्व) (count-marker)

• यमौ: yamau (two ‘yama’ groups)
• यमौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (छन्दः-गणसूचक-शब्दः)

• न्सौ: nsau (two ‘nsu’ groups)
• न्सौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्सु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (छन्दः-गणसूचक-शब्दः)

• रौ: rau (two ‘ru’ groups)
• रौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (छन्दः-गणसूचक-शब्दः)

• मेघविस्फूर्जिता: Meghavisphūrjitā (metre)
• मेघविस्फूर्जिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्फूर्जित (कृदन्त; √स्फूर्ज्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (छन्दः-नाम); समासः (मेघवत् विस्फूर्जिता)

• रगौ: ragau (two ‘ragu’ groups)
• रगौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रगु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (छन्दः-गणसूचक-शब्दः)

• शार्दूलविक्रीडितम्: Śārdūlavikrīḍita (metre)
• शार्दूलविक्रीडितम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रीडित (कृदन्त; √क्रीड्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (छन्दः-नाम); समासः (शार्दूलस्य विक्रीडितम्)

• मः: ma (metrical group)
• मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (छन्दः-गणसूचक-शब्दः)

• सूर्यश्वैः: with sun-horses (count-marker)
• सूर्यश्वैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः (सूर्य-अश्व) (count-marker)

• सज्सताः: sajsatā-s (metrical groups)
• सज्सताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सज्सत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (छन्दः-गणसूचक-शब्दः)

• स्तगौ: stagau (two ‘stagu’ groups)
• स्तगौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तगु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (छन्दः-गणसूचक-शब्दः)

Speaker

Narratorial/compendium voice (prosodic listing within the Purāṇic text; not a direct doctrinal dialogue line)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Metre as a structured sonic form; naming conventions link natural power-images to precise syllabic markers.

Vedantic Theme: Nāma-rūpa discipline: names (metre titles) correspond to definite forms (patterns); order in sound reflects order in mind.

Application: Use the gaṇa markers (e.g., yamau, n-sau, rau, etc.) to identify metres like Meghavisphūrjitā and Śārdūlavikrīḍita during scansion and composition.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.209.31–34 (metre catalogue continues)

Characters & Entities

• Chandas (Vedic/poetic metre tradition)

FAQs

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

This verse functions as a mnemonic/prosodic reference, indicating that correct metre and sound-patterns were preserved for accurate recitation and transmission of the Purāṇic text.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul after death?

It does not describe afterlife doctrine directly; it is a technical prosody line naming metres and gaṇa-markers, supporting correct chanting of the surrounding teachings.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a cue that precise pronunciation and metrical discipline matter when chanting or studying the Garuda Purana, especially in ritual recitations connected to śrāddha and ancestral rites.