Shloka 18

Āryā-Chandas Lakṣaṇa; Gīti-Bheda; Vaitālīya-Vaktra; Mātrā-to-Varṇa Transition

Devanagari script

मात्रावृत्तानि चोक्तानि वर्णवृत्तानि वच्मि वै

Transliteration

mātrāvṛttāni coktāni varṇavṛttāni vacmi vai

Translation

Metre berasaskan mātrā telah dinyatakan; kini sesungguhnya aku akan menghuraikan metre berasaskan suku kata (varṇa-vṛtta).

Word by Word

• मात्रावृत्तानि: metres based on morae (mātrā-metres)
• मात्रावृत्तानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मात्राणां वृत्तानि)

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

• उक्तानि: have been stated
• उक्तानि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (उक्तानि = ‘have been said’)

• वर्णवृत्तानि: metres based on syllables (varṇa-metres)
• वर्णवृत्तानि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वर्णानां वृत्तानि)

• वच्मि: I speak / I will explain
• वच्मि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis/assurance)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Systematic classification of metres: mātrā-based vs varṇa (syllable)-based.

Vedantic Theme: Śāstra as a means of right understanding (pramāṇa) in the service of dharma and devotion.

Application: Use the distinction to scan verses correctly, preserve textual integrity, and recite with proper rhythm.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.208 (preceding discussion of mātrā-vṛtta); Garuda Purana 1.209 (subsequent varṇa-vṛtta/gaṇa definitions)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of mātrā-vṛtta and varṇa-vṛtta in the Garuda Purana?

This verse marks a structured teaching sequence: after explaining mātrā-based metres, the text transitions to varṇa-based metres, supporting accurate chanting and study.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly address the soul’s journey; instead, it introduces a technical section on metres, which aids correct recitation of teachings elsewhere in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Use it as a cue to learn metre rules—improving pronunciation, rhythm, and fidelity when chanting or digitizing/annotating Garuda Purana verses.