Shloka 4

Devanagari script

त्रिपदाष्टाक्षरा ज्ञेया चतुष्पादा षडक्षरा / जेप च त्रिपदा ग्रोक्ता अर्चने च चतुष्पदा

Transliteration

tripadāṣṭākṣarā jñeyā catuṣpādā ṣaḍakṣarā / jepa ca tripadā groktā arcane ca catuṣpadā

Translation

Know the eight-syllabled mantra to be of three pādas, and the six-syllabled mantra to be of four pādas. In japa it is taught as three-pāda, while in arcana (worship) it is employed as four-pāda.

Word by Word

• त्रिपदा: three-footed (three pādas)
• त्रिपदा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रीणि पदानि यस्याः) — Feminine, Nominative singular; dvigu

• अष्टाक्षरा: eight-syllabled
• अष्टाक्षरा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (अष्ट अक्षराणि यस्याः) — Feminine, Nominative singular; dvigu

• ज्ञेया: should be known
• ज्ञेया: Vidhi (Injunctive predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘ज्ञेय’ (यत्/तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त) — Feminine, Nominative singular; to be known

• चतुष्पादा: four-footed (four pādas)
• चतुष्पादा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (चत्वारः पादाः यस्याः) — Feminine, Nominative singular; dvigu

• षडक्षरा: six-syllabled
• षडक्षरा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षट् (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (षट् अक्षराणि यस्याः) — Feminine, Nominative singular; dvigu

• जेप: recite
• जेप: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/लुङ्-पाठभेदसम्भाव्य; रूपदोष/पाठान्तरं सम्भाव्य ‘जप’/‘जपेत्’; अत्र ‘जप’ इति आज्ञार्थे लोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन (परस्मैपदम्) इति ग्रहणीयम् — Imperative (assumed), 2nd person singular

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात — conjunction

• त्रिपदा: (as) three-footed
• त्रिपदा: Visheshya (Subject complement/विषय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative singular; dvigu

• ग्रोक्ता: is declared
• ग्रोक्ता: Vidhi/Pratijna (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गॄ/गिर् (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘उक्त’ (क्त-प्रत्ययान्त) इत्यर्थे पाठान्तरं ‘प्रोक्ता’ सम्भाव्य; अत्र ‘ग्रोक्ता’ = ‘उक्ता/प्रोक्ता’ — Feminine, Nominative singular; said/declared

• अर्चने: in worship
• अर्चने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन — Neuter, Locative singular

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक — conjunction

• चतुष्पदा: (as) four-footed
• चतुष्पदा: Visheshya (Subject complement/विषय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative singular; dvigu

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra, as typical Garuda Purana framing)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mantra-viniyoga depends on correct chandas/pāda-structure; the same mantra may be deployed differently in japa versus arcana.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda as upāya (means): disciplined form (ākāra) supports inner meaning (artha) and steadiness of mind.

Application: When teaching/performing, maintain the prescribed pāda-division for the relevant rite: japa-mode versus worship-mode; avoid mixing procedural forms.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.35.5 (nyāsa/japa/dhyāna/agni/arcana contexts)

FAQs

What is the importance of mantra pāda-division in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that mantras have prescribed structural divisions (pādas) that can vary by practice, ensuring correct recitation and proper ritual application.

How does this verse distinguish japa from arcana?

It states that the mantra is treated as three-pāda in japa (recitative repetition), while in arcana (formal worship) it is arranged/used as four-pāda, reflecting differing liturgical conventions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When practicing mantra repetition or temple-style worship, follow the traditional recitation format taught in your sampradāya/teacher lineage, since the same mantra may be segmented differently for japa versus ritual worship.