Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

असम्बाधा मतनसा गगौ बाणग्रहैर्यतिः / ननराः सो लधुगुरुः स्वरैः प्रोक्तापराजिता

Transliteration

asambādhā matanasā gagau bāṇagrahairyatiḥ / nanarāḥ so ladhuguruḥ svaraiḥ proktāparājitā

Translation

妨げなき歩みと静まった心をもって、苦行者は前へ進む。矢を取り、発せられた声の「不敗」の音調によって、それを軽重の響きとして鳴らし示した。

Word by Word

• असम्बाधा: unobstructed, not cramped
• असम्बाधा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-सम्बाध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ/निषेध (negated)

• मतनसा: by/with matanasā (technical label)
• मतनसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत-नसा (प्रातिपदिक; मत + नसा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (determinative; as a technical/prosodic label)

• गगौ: (the gaṇa) gagau
• गगौ: Visheshya (Label/संज्ञा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गगौ (प्रातिपदिक; छन्दोगण-संज्ञा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; छन्दः-गणनाम

• बाणग्रहैः: with bāṇa-grahas (technical set)
• बाणग्रहैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण-ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक; बाण + ग्रह)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('of arrows' → 'arrow-grahas')

• यतिः: yati (metrical pause)
• यतिः: Visheshya (Predicate label/संज्ञा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; छन्दः-परिभाषा

• ननराः: nanarāḥ (prosodic group/name)
• ननराः: Visheshya (Label/संज्ञा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ननर (प्रातिपदिक; छन्दोगण-संज्ञा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; छन्दः-गण/वृत्त-संज्ञा

• सः: he/that
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• लधुगुरुः: laghu-guru (light/heavy syllable pattern)
• लधुगुरुः: Visheshya (Predicate label/संज्ञा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लघु-गुरु (प्रातिपदिक; लघु + गुरु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (copulative: 'light and heavy' syllables)

• स्वरैः: by/with sounds/notes
• स्वरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• प्रोक्ता: declared, stated
• प्रोक्ता: Karma (Predicate participle/कर्मणि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; 'having been said/declared'

• अपराजिता: Aparājitā (unconquered; name/title)
• अपराजिता: Visheshya (Predicate noun/संज्ञा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-पराजित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ ('unconquered'); वृत्त/नाम (as title)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narration to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mastery of prosodic weight (laghu/guru) and svara articulation; mental composure supports unobstructed, ‘aparājita’ (unconquered) vocal execution.

Vedantic Theme: Mind-control (śama) enabling precise śabda; inner steadiness reflected in outer speech.

Application: In recitation, maintain a composed mind and mark laghu/guru clearly through stable svara; treat the verse as instruction for disciplined phonetic delivery rather than emotive improvisation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.209 (laghu-guru and svara handling in the prosody section)

Characters & Entities

• Yati

FAQs

What is the importance of disciplined mind (matanasā) in Garuda Purana?

This verse links spiritual progress to an unimpeded path and a composed mind, implying that inner steadiness is a prerequisite for effective practice and forward movement on the dharmic path.

How does this verse relate to mantra or sound (svara) in Garuda Purana?

By mentioning svara and the contrast of laghu-guru (light/heavy), the verse points to the power of correctly produced sounds—suggesting that precise utterance and tonal discipline carry spiritual efficacy.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate mental steadiness through daily discipline, and if you chant or recite prayers, do so attentively with correct pronunciation and measured rhythm rather than hurried repetition.