Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

सर्वादिमध्यान्तगलौ म्नौ भ्यौ ज्रौ स्तौ त्रिका गणाः / आर्या चतुष्कलाद्यन्तसर्वमध्ये चतुर्गणाः

Transliteration

sarvādimadhyāntagalau mnau bhyau jrau stau trikā gaṇāḥ / āryā catuṣkalādyantasarvamadhye caturgaṇāḥ

Translation

આરંભ, મધ્ય અને અંત—દરેક સ્થાને ‘ગલૌ’, ‘મ્નૌ’, ‘ભ્યૌ’, ‘જ્રૌ’, ‘સ્તૌ’—આ ત્રિક (ત્રણ અક્ષર) ગણો ગણાય છે. પરંતુ આર્યા છંદમાં આરંભ-અંત તથા મધ્ય સર્વત્ર ચતુષ્કલ (ચાર ખંડ) ગણો હોય છે.

Word by Word

• सर्वादिमध्यान्तगलौ: (the gaṇas) sa, ra, va, ā, di, ma, dhya, anta, ga, la, u (as a pair/list)
• सर्वादिमध्यान्तगलौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + गल (प्रातिपदिक) + उ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; समासः (समाहार/द्वन्द्व): सर्व-आदि-मध्य-अन्त-ग-ल-उ (छन्दोगण-नामानि)

• म्नौ: mnau (a prosodic gaṇa)
• म्नौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: म्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; छन्दोगण-नाम (prosodic gaṇa symbol)

• भ्यौ: bhyau (a prosodic gaṇa)
• भ्यौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; छन्दोगण-नाम

• ज्रौ: jrau (a prosodic gaṇa)
• ज्रौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; छन्दोगण-नाम

• स्तौ: stau (a prosodic gaṇa)
• स्तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; छन्दोगण-नाम

• त्रिकाः: triads
• त्रिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्विगुसमासः: त्रि + क (threefold groups)

• गणाः: groups/gaṇas
• गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• आर्या: Āryā (metre)
• आर्या: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; छन्दोनाम (name of a metre)

• चतुष्कलाद्यन्तसर्वमध्ये: in the (pattern) with four-mātrā beginning/end and full middle
• चतुष्कलाद्यन्तसर्वमध्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्कला (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक) + सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः: चतुष्कला-आदि-अन्त-सर्व-मध्य-े = 'in (a scheme) where beginning/end are of four mātrās and the middle is all (filled)' (छन्दोवर्णन-परिभाषा)

• चतुर्गणाः: four gaṇas
• चतुर्गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्विगुसमासः: चतुर् + गण (four gaṇas)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Chandas-vidyā: metrical composition is governed by gaṇa-patterns; Āryā follows distinct four-mātrā groupings across positions.

Vedantic Theme: Discipline (niyama) and order as supports for śāstra and sacred recitation; form safeguards meaning.

Application: Use gaṇa patterns to scan/compose verses accurately; apply Āryā’s special grouping rules when teaching or composing.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.207 (chandas section; gaṇa terminology continuation)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of gaṇas (metrical groups) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights how gaṇas are used to classify syllable-patterns in metres, supporting correct chanting, memorization, and faithful transmission of the Purana’s verses.

How does this verse explain the Āryā metre differently from other metres?

It states that while many metres are analyzed through tri-syllabic gaṇas, the Āryā metre is treated with four-syllable groupings across the beginning, middle, and end.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use these gaṇa and Āryā rules when digitizing, teaching, or chanting the Garuda Purana to preserve accurate rhythm (chandas) and reduce recitation errors.