Shloka 4

Chandas-Lakṣaṇa: Upacitraka, Vegavatī, Bhadravirāṭ, Viparītākhyānaka, Vaitālīya

Aparavaktra

Devanagari script

सगौ समे भ्रौ नगगा आख्यानकी त्वथासमे / तौ जो गगौ समे पादे जतजा गुरुकद्वयम्

Transliteration

sagau same bhrau nagagā ākhyānakī tvathāsame / tau jo gagau same pāde jatajā gurukadvayam

Translation

In the even (sama) metrical scheme: when the opening of a pāda bears the pattern “sa-gau,” it is called “na-ga-gā,” and it also belongs to the narrative metre ākhyānakī. In an even pāda, “tau-jo-ga-gau” is prescribed; and “ja-ta-jā” forms a pair of heavy syllables (guru-dvayam).

Word by Word

• सगौ: the gaṇa(s) ‘sa’ and ‘ga’ (sagau)
• सगौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सगौ (प्रातिपदिक; छन्दः-गणसंज्ञा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; गणसंज्ञा (metre-gaṇa name)

• समे: in the even (pāda)
• समे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘सम’ = even (pāda/metre)

• भ्रौ: the gaṇa(s) ‘bhra’ and ‘u’ (bhrau)
• भ्रौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रौ (प्रातिपदिक; छन्दः-गणसंज्ञा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; गणसंज्ञा

• नगगा: (sequence) na-ga-gā
• नगगा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नगगा (प्रातिपदिक; छन्दः-गणसंज्ञा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; गणक्रम-संज्ञा

• आख्यानकी: (the metre) Ākhyānakī
• आख्यानकी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आख्यानकी (प्रातिपदिक; वृत्त-नाम)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; वृत्तसंज्ञा

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अनन्तरार्थ

• असमे: in the odd (pāda)
• असमे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘असम’ = odd/uneven (pāda)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

• जो: the gaṇa ‘ja’ (jo)
• जो: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जो (प्रातिपदिक; छन्दः-गणसंज्ञा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; गणसंज्ञा

• गगौ: the two ‘ga’ gaṇas (gagau)
• गगौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गगौ (प्रातिपदिक; छन्दः-गणसंज्ञा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; गणसंज्ञा

• समे: in the even (pāda)
• समे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• पादे: in the pāda (quarter-verse)
• पादे: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• जतजा: (sequence) ja-ta-jā
• जतजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जतजा (प्रातिपदिक; छन्दः-गणसंज्ञा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; गणक्रम-संज्ञा

• गुरुकद्वयम्: a pair of heavy syllables
• गुरुकद्वयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरुक-द्वय (प्रातिपदिक; गुरु+क, द्वय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (द्वयम् of gurus)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, within a metrical/recitational section)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Chandas-lakṣaṇa: defining sama-vṛtta patterns through gaṇa sequences and guru-laghu structure.

Vedantic Theme: Śāstra as pramāṇa for correct speech (vāk) and disciplined cognition; order (ṛta) mirrored in prosody.

Application: Use the stated gaṇa patterns to scan/compose ākhyānakī-type verses; verify pāda structure by guru-dvaya and gaṇa placement.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.210 (prosody section): definitions of sama/viṣama pādas and gaṇa nomenclature; Garuda Purana 1.210.5-1.210.6 (adjacent vṛtta definitions)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse treats metre as a rule-based aid to correct chanting, indicating that specific syllabic patterns (guru/laghu groupings) define how a pāda should be formed and recited.

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

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it supports the broader tradition by ensuring the text is transmitted and chanted accurately through metrical prescriptions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When studying or chanting the Garuda Purana, follow metrical cues (guru/laghu patterns) to maintain correct pronunciation, rhythm, and fidelity to the tradition.