Shloka 1

Chandaḥśāstra: Mātrā–Varṇa, Guru–Laghu, Gaṇa, and Metre Types

Devanagari script

ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच / वासुदेवं गुरुं नत्वा गणं शम्भुं सरस्वतीम् / मात्रावर्णप्रभेदेन च्छन्दो वक्ष्ये ऽल्पबुद्धये

Transliteration

'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca / vāsudevaṃ guruṃ natvā gaṇaṃ śambhuṃ sarasvatīm / mātrāvarṇaprabhedena cchando vakṣye 'lpabuddhaye

Translation

Sūta dit : «Après m’être prosterné devant Vāsudeva, le maître suprême, devant Gaṇa (Gaṇeśa), devant Śambhu (Śiva) et devant Sarasvatī, j’exposerai la science des mètres poétiques (chandas) selon les distinctions de mātrā (mores) et de varṇa (sons syllabiques), pour le bien de ceux dont l’intelligence est limitée.»

Word by Word

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वासुदेवम्: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गुरुम्: teacher, guru
• गुरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नत्वा: having bowed to
• नत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having bowed'

• गणम्: Gaṇa (group; here Gaṇeśa)
• गणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शम्भुम्: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सरस्वतीम्: Sarasvatī
• सरस्वतीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मात्रावर्णप्रभेदेन: by (means of) distinctions of mātrā and varṇa
• मात्रावर्णप्रभेदेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः: मात्रा-वर्ण-प्रभेदेन = 'by the distinction of morae and syllables/letters'

• छन्दः: metre/prosody
• छन्दः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्मरूपे) एकवचन; रूपम्: छन्दः (छन्दस्-शब्दस्य)

• वक्ष्ये: I shall explain
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अल्पबुद्धये: for the slow-witted / of little understanding
• अल्पबुद्धये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; समासः: अल्पा बुद्धिः यस्य/यस्यै (for one of little understanding)

Speaker

Sūta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Knowledge is best begun with praṇāma to the divine; chandas is taught as a śāstra for the welfare of learners.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha as support for vidyā; harmonizing devotion and disciplined study.

Application: Begin study/creative work with invocation; approach learning with humility; teach in accessible steps (mātrā/varṇa distinctions).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.207 (chandas-prakaraṇa opening invocation; internal anchor)

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva
• Gaṇa (Gaṇeśa)
• Śambhu (Śiva)
• Sarasvatī

FAQs

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

This verse frames chandas as a teachable discipline grounded in mātrā (time-units) and varṇa (syllabic sounds), supporting accurate recitation and comprehension of scripture.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s main teachings on dharma and the afterlife?

It serves as a formal opening to a technical section: by ensuring correct metre and pronunciation, the text safeguards faithful transmission of teachings that elsewhere address dharma, rites, and post-death doctrines.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach study with humility and proper method: learn basic mātrā/varṇa rules for clearer chanting, and begin any learning with a respectful invocation to the sources of guidance and speech.