Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

व्यञ्जनान्तो विसर्गान्तौ दीर्घो युक्तपरो गुरुः / सानुस्वारश्च पादान्तो वा इत्युक्तो द्विमात्रकः

Transliteration

vyañjanānto visargāntau dīrgho yuktaparo guruḥ / sānusvāraśca pādānto vā ityukto dvimātrakaḥ

Translation

ವ್ಯಂಜನಾಂತ, ವಿಸರ್ಗಾಂತ (ಃ), ದೀರ್ಘ, ಅಥವಾ ಸಂಯುಕ್ತವ್ಯಂಜನದಿಂದ ಅನುಸರಿತ ಅಕ್ಷರವು ಗುರು—ಅಂದರೆ ದ್ವಿಮಾತ್ರಕವೆಂದು ಹೇಳಲ್ಪಡುತ್ತದೆ. ಅನುಸ್ವಾರ (ಂ) ಯುಕ್ತ ಅಕ್ಷರವೂ, (ಐಚ್ಛಿಕವಾಗಿ) ಪಾದಾಂತದ ಅಕ್ಷರವೂ ದ್ವಿಮಾತ್ರಕವೇ.

Word by Word

• व्यञ्जनान्तः: ending in a consonant
• व्यञ्जनान्तः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यञ्जन (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; व्यञ्जनान्त = व्यञ्जनेन अन्तः यस्य (समास)

• विसर्गान्तौ: (two) ending in visarga
• विसर्गान्तौ: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विसर्गान्त = विसर्गेण अन्तः यस्य (समास)

• दीर्घः: long (vowel)
• दीर्घः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• युक्तपरः: having a conjunct/cluster following
• युक्तपरः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् धातु) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; युक्तपर = युक्तः परः यस्य/यत्र (समास)

• गुरुः: heavy (guru syllable)
• गुरुः: Pradhana-predicative (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सानुस्वारः: with anusvāra
• सानुस्वारः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/समास-पूर्वपद) + अनुस्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सानुस्वार = अनुस्वारयुक्तः (समास)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पादान्तः: at the end of a pāda (quarter-verse)
• पादान्तः: Visheshana (Adjectival qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; पादान्त = पादस्य अन्तः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/निगमनार्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्तः: is said/called
• उक्तः: Pradhana-predicative (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √वच् (धातु) क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (उक्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• द्विमात्रकः: having two mātrās (two time-units)
• द्विमात्रकः: Pradhana-predicative (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + क (तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; द्विमात्रक = द्वे मात्रे अस्य (द्विगु-समास)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śabda-niyama: rules for determining guru syllables (dvimātraka) in chandas.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda as a disciplined vehicle of meaning; purity of transmission (śruti-smṛti style) through correct recitation.

Application: Use these criteria (consonant/visarga/long vowel/cluster/anusvāra/pāda-end option) to scan verses and maintain correct rhythm in pāṭha.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.207 (chandas/prastāra context); Garuda Purana 1.208 (metre definitions continuing)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of guru (heavy) syllables in the Garuda Purana?

This verse gives the technical rule-set for identifying a guru syllable (two mātrās), which is essential for correctly scanning, reciting, and preserving the Purana’s metrical structure.

How does this verse define when a syllable becomes guru (dvimātraka)?

It states that a syllable is heavy if it ends in a consonant or visarga, contains a long vowel, is followed by a consonant cluster, has anusvāra, and (optionally) if it occurs at the end of a pāda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use these rules to chant Garuda Purana verses with correct rhythm and timing, improving accuracy in memorization, teaching, and digital text/audio archiving.