Shloka 12

Āryā-Chandas Lakṣaṇa; Gīti-Bheda; Vaitālīya-Vaktra; Mātrā-to-Varṇa Transition

Devanagari script

षोडशलो ऽचलधृतिर्मात्रासमकमुच्यते

Transliteration

ṣoḍaśalo 'caladhṛtirmātrāsamakamucyate

Translation

Le mètre qui comporte seize syllabes est appelé Acaladhṛti, et l’on dit qu’il est égal en mātrās (unités de durée).

Word by Word

• षोडशलः: sixteen-syllabled / of sixteen
• षोडशलः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; संख्याविशेषणम्

• अचलधृतिः: (metre) Acaladhṛti
• अचलधृतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अचल + धृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयसमासः (अचला धृतिः)

• मात्रासमकम्: equal in mātrās (morae)
• मात्रासमकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मात्रा + समक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (मात्रया समकम्)

• उच्यते: is said/called
• उच्यते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (वच् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A named metre is defined by syllable count and mātrā-equivalence; naming stabilizes knowledge for transmission.

Vedantic Theme: nāma-rūpa (name-form) as a structuring principle of cognition: form (count/mātrā) receives name (Acaladhṛti).

Application: In composing/reciting, verify sixteen syllables and mātrā balance to correctly employ Acaladhṛti.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.208.9; Garuda Purana 1.208.10

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of Acaladhṛti in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines Acaladhṛti as a sixteen-syllable metre with equal mātrā-count, helping preserve correct recitation and textual transmission.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it provides a prosodic rule, supporting accurate chanting of teachings elsewhere in the Garuda Purana on death rites and afterlife.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a recitation guideline: maintain equal mātrā timing when chanting verses in this metre to keep pronunciation, rhythm, and memorization precise.