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Shloka 17

Nāmāṣṭottara-dviśata: Gaṇa–Chandas–Yati Catalogue and Mnemonic Coding

Devanagari script

गुहवक्त्रैश्च सन्निद्रा ललिता स्यात्तभौ जरौ / प्रमिताक्षरा सजससैरुज्ज्वला तु ननौ भरौ

Transliteration

guhavaktraiśca sannidrā lalitā syāttabhau jarau / pramitākṣarā sajasasairujjvalā tu nanau bharau

Translation

ગુહા જેવી મુખછબી અને નિદ્રાભારની સ્થિરતા હોવા છતાં તે લલિતા જેવી દેખાય છે; ‘તભૌ જરૌ’ એવા બે લક્ષણો કહેવાયા છે. અક્ષરો મિત છે; ‘સ–જ–સ–સૈ’ જોડાય ત્યારે તે ઉજ્જ્વલ બને છે, અને પછી ‘ન–નૌ’ તથા ‘ભ–રૌ’ થી પણ।

Word by Word
गुह-वक्त्रैःby the gaṇas ‘guha’ and ‘vaktra’
गुह-वक्त्रैः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootगुह (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; छन्दोगण-सूचक (technical)
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक
सन्निद्रा(the metre) Sannidrā
सन्निद्रा:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootसन्निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; छन्दोनाम
ललिता(the metre) Lalitā
ललिता:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootललिता (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; छन्दोनाम
स्यात्would be/is (defined as)
स्यात्:
Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन
तभौ(the gaṇas) ta and bhau
तभौ:
Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
TypeNoun
Rootतभौ (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; gaṇa-pair
जरौ(the gaṇas) ja and rau
जरौ:
Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
TypeNoun
Rootजरौ (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; gaṇa-pair
प्रमित-अक्षराhaving measured/fixed syllables
प्रमित-अक्षरा:
Visheshana (to implied metre-name)
TypeAdjective
Rootप्र + मि (धातु) → प्रमित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण
स-जससैःby the gaṇas sa and jasas
स-जससैः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootस (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक) + जसस (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; gaṇa-list as instrument
उज्ज्वला(the metre) Ujjvalā
उज्ज्वला:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootउज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; छन्दोनाम
तुbut/indeed
तु:
Sambandha (Discourse particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formनिपात
ननौ(the gaṇas) na and nau
ननौ:
Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
TypeNoun
Rootननौ (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; gaṇa-pair
भरौ(the gaṇas) bha and rau
भरौ:
Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
TypeNoun
Rootभरौ (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; gaṇa-pair
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prosodic encoding through gaṇa strings; the verse uses personification and paradox to mark metrical features (measured syllables; sequences like sa-ja-sa-sai, na-nau, bha-rau).

Vedantic Theme: Śabda as a subtle body of meaning: the same sound-pattern can appear ‘sleepy’ or ‘radiant’ depending on arrangement—appearance vs structure.

Application: In scansion, verify measured syllable counts and match gaṇa clusters; use the mnemonic imagery (sleep/decay/radiance) to remember transitions between gaṇa sequences.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.209.15-19 (gaṇa-coding mnemonics across metres)

Characters & Entities
V
Vishnu
G
Garuda

FAQs

This verse emphasizes that sound-units are to be kept “measured” (pramita), implying disciplined pronunciation and structured syllabic groupings for ritual efficacy.

Garuda Purana frequently links ritual outcomes to correct recitation; here the focus is on regulated syllables and specific sound-clusters, reflecting the text’s concern for precise chanting in rites of protection and purification.

Chant slowly and consistently, keeping pronunciation steady; treat recitation as a disciplined practice rather than hurried reading, especially when used in prayer or ritual contexts.

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