Shloka 36
Nāmāṣṭottara-dviśata: Gaṇa–Chandas–Yati Catalogue and Mnemonic Coding
दिगर्कैर्भद्रकं भ्रौ न्रौ नरना गो यथाकृतिः / नजौ भश्वाश्वललितं जभौ जभलगा भवेत्
digarkairbhadrakaṃ bhrau nrau naranā go yathākṛtiḥ / najau bhaśvāśvalalitaṃ jabhau jabhalagā bhavet
‘दिग्’ व ‘अर्क’ या गणसंयोगाने ‘भद्रक’ होते; ‘भ्रौ’ व ‘न्रौ’ यांद्वारे ‘नर’ व ‘नाग’ असा निर्देश होतो; आणि ‘गो’ हा गण ठरलेल्या विधीनुसार घडवावा. ‘न-जौ’ ने ‘भश्व’ होते; ‘अश्व’ ने ‘अश्व-ललित’; ‘ज-भौ’ ने ‘जभ’; आणि अशा रीतीने ‘जभ-लगा’ निर्माण होते.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Rule-governed derivation: specific gaṇa markers yield specific chandas-names; knowledge is encoded in compact syllabic keys.
Vedantic Theme: Śabda as a structured vehicle of knowledge; discipline of language (vāk) as an aid to right understanding.
Application: Apply the given gaṇa triggers (dig/arka, bhrau/nrau, na-jau, aśva, ja-bhau) to identify or construct the corresponding metres in composition and recitation.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.209: continuing list of metres and gaṇa triggers; likely preceding/following verses define additional prakṛti/vikṛti patterns
FAQs
This verse functions as a technical guide: it teaches how specific syllabic groups combine to yield particular mantra-words/names, emphasizing that ritual efficacy depends on correct formation and pronunciation.
Garuda Purana’s ritual sections often rely on exact mantra recitation; this verse supports that framework by giving phonetic/structural instructions for producing specific terms used in liturgical contexts.
When chanting Garuda Purana passages or related mantras for śrāddha/pinda-dāna contexts, follow an authentic text and teacher-led pronunciation—this verse underlines that precision in sound and structure matters.