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Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

रनसैः स्याद्धलमुखी नौ मः शिशुभृता भवेत् / बृहतीछन्द इत्युक्तं स्मौ जगौ स विराजितम्

Transliteration

ranasaiḥ syāddhalamukhī nau maḥ śiśubhṛtā bhavet / bṛhatīchanda ityuktaṃ smau jagau sa virājitam

Translation

With the syllabic sequence “ra–na–sa” it becomes the gaṇa called Dhalamukhī; with “nau–ma” it becomes the gaṇa called Śiśubhṛtā. Thus it is proclaimed to be the Bṛhatī metre; within it the two gaṇas “smau” and “jagau” shine forth.

Word by Word
रनसैःby the (gaṇa) ‘ra-na-sa’ syllable-patterns
रनसैः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootरनस (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural (by/with)
स्यात्would be / should be
स्यात्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular optative
हलमुखी(the metre) Hala-mukhī
हलमुखी:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootहल + मुखी (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine nominative singular
नौtwo (syllables/gaṇas) ‘nau’
नौ:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeNoun
Rootनौ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; Dual (nom./acc.)
मः‘ma’ (the gaṇa/letter)
मः:
Visheshya (Qualified/विशेष्य)
TypeNoun
Rootम (प्रातिपदिक/वर्णनाम)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (letter-name)
शिशुभृता(the metre) Śiśu-bhṛtā
शिशुभृता:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootशिशु + भृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; समास)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine nominative singular
भवेत्would be / should become
भवेत्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootभू (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 3rd person singular optative
बृहतीछन्दःthe Bṛhatī metre
बृहतीछन्दः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootबृहती + छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter nominative singular
इतिthus
इति:
Sambandha (Quotation/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइति (अव्यय)
Formइति-शब्दः; quotation marker (particle)
उक्तम्is said / has been stated
उक्तम्:
Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootवच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (भूतकर्मणि/कर्मणि), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Past passive participle ‘said’
स्मौ‘smau’ (two gaṇas so named)
स्मौ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootस्मौ (प्रातिपदिक/छन्दोगण-नाम)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; Nominative dual (gaṇa-names)
जगौ‘jagau’ (two gaṇas so named)
जगौ:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootजगौ (प्रातिपदिक/छन्दोगण-नाम)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; Nominative dual (gaṇa-names)
सःthat / it
सः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Pronoun nominative singular
विराजितम्adorned / resplendent
विराजितम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootवि + राज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; Past participle used adjectivally
Speaker

Narrator/Compiler voice (prosody instruction within the text; not a direct Vishnu–Garuda dialogue line)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śāstric knowledge as a disciplined mapping of sound (akṣara) into gaṇa and chandas, yielding intelligibility and correct recitation.

Vedantic Theme: Vāk as a structured manifestation; order (ṛta-like regularity) in language supports dharmaic transmission of meaning.

Application: Use the gaṇa markers to scan verses accurately; apply in memorization, correct chanting, and composing in Bṛhatī.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.209 (chandas/gaṇa section); General gaṇa system: ma-ya-ra-sa-ta-ja-bha-na-la-ga (Pingala tradition)

Characters & Entities
C
Chandas (Bṛhatī)

FAQs

This verse functions as a metrical note: it identifies the Bṛhatī metre through specific gaṇa/syllable-pattern markers, helping preserve correct recitation and transmission.

It does not describe the soul’s journey; instead, it provides chandas (metre) identification, which supports accurate chanting of doctrinal sections elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Use it to verify metre while chanting or digitizing the text—metre checks help detect copying errors and maintain reliable recitation in ritual or study.

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