Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

नौ ततौ गः क्षमावृत्तं तुरगैश्च रसैर्यतिः / प्रहर्षिणी मनौ ज्रौ गा वह्निभिर्दशभिर्यतिः

Transliteration

nau tatau gaḥ kṣamāvṛttaṃ turagaiśca rasairyatiḥ / praharṣiṇī manau jrau gā vahnibhirdaśabhiryatiḥ

Translation

‘നൗ’, ‘തതൗ’, ‘ഗഃ’; ‘ക്ഷമാവൃത്തം’; കുതിരകളും (ഷഡ്) രസങ്ങളും സഹിതം ‘യതി’; ‘പ്രഹർഷിണീ’; ‘മനൗ’; ‘ജ്രൗ’; ‘ഗാ’; പിന്നെയും പത്ത് അഗ്നികളോടുകൂടി ‘യതി’—ഇവയാണ് പ്രസ്താവിച്ച സൂചനാ-സംജ്ഞകൾ।

Word by Word

• नौ: (the gaṇas) na and au
• नौ: Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नौ (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; gaṇa-pair

• ततौ: (the gaṇas) ta and tau
• ततौ: Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ततौ (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• गः: (the gaṇa) ga
• गः: Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; gaṇa-name

• क्षमा-वृत्तम्: (the metre) Kṣamāvṛtta
• क्षमा-वृत्तम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; छन्दोनाम

• तुरगैः: by horses (count-marker)
• तुरगैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुरग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; गणना-चिह्न (technical)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक

• रसैः: by rasas (count-marker)
• रसैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; गणना-चिह्न (technical)

• यतिः: caesura/pause
• यतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रहर्षिणी: (the metre) Praharṣiṇī
• प्रहर्षिणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रहर्षिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; छन्दोनाम

• मनौ: (the gaṇas) ma and nau
• मनौ: Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनौ (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• ज्रौ: (the gaṇas) jra and au
• ज्रौ: Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्रौ (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• गाः: (the gaṇas) gā (set)
• गाः: Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गा (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (as technical plural)

• वह्निभिः: by fires (count-marker)
• वह्निभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; गणना-चिह्न (fire=3 etc., technical)

• दशभिः: by ten
• दशभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• यतिः: caesura/pause
• यतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra, continuing the instructional narration)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Mnemonic catalog of prosodic/gaṇa designations using symbolic numerology (horses, six tastes, ten fires) to encode metrical markers.

Vedantic Theme: Number-symbolism as upāya (method) for retaining śabda-knowledge; disciplined memory (smṛti) supporting sacred learning.

Application: Use the numeric images as memory pegs: ‘horses’ for a count/beat, ‘six tastes’ for ṣaḍrasa grouping, ‘ten fires’ for daśāgni count—apply while scanning or teaching the listed metres/gaṇas.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.209.15-18 (preceding metre definitions and yati markers)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of coded terms like ‘nau’, ‘tatau’, and ‘gaḥ’ in the Garuda Purana?

This verse lists technical markers used in ritual/mantric instruction; they function as mnemonic or coded designations within a larger rite-description rather than as a straightforward narrative sentence.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on rites connected to death and dharma?

In the Garuda Purana, practical dharma and ritual sections often employ compact coded vocabulary; such lists typically support correct recitation/identification of components (e.g., fires, tastes, symbolic sets) used in prescribed observances.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If using the Garuda Purana for ritual guidance, rely on a traditional commentary or qualified priestly instruction, since verses like this encode technical identifiers (e.g., ‘ten fires’, ‘six tastes’) that must be applied accurately in context.