Shloka 37
Nāmāṣṭottara-dviśata: Gaṇa–Chandas–Yati Catalogue and Mnemonic Coding
मत्ताक्रीडञ्चाष्टबाणदशकैर्मौ तनौ ननौ / नलौ गुरुश्च विकृतिश्छिन्ना संकृतिरुच्यते
mattākrīḍañcāṣṭabāṇadaśakairmau tanau nanau / nalau guruśca vikṛtiśchinnā saṃkṛtirucyate
‘मत्ताक्रीडा’ ‘अष्टबाण’ ‘दशक’ इति छन्दःसु गणाः ‘मौ-तनौ-ननौ’ इति विन्यस्यन्ते; अन्यविकल्पे ‘नलौ’ भवति, यत्र गुरोः प्रभावेन विकृतिः जायते। यदा नियमितः क्रमः छिन्नो वा परिवर्तितो भवति, तदा सा ‘संकृतिः’ इति कथ्यते।
Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra as part of a didactic section)
Concept: Vikṛti/saṃkṛti principle: a base metrical pattern can be modified by guru (heavy syllable) or truncation, producing recognized mixed forms.
Vedantic Theme: Prakṛti–vikṛti as an analytic lens (pattern and transformation), mirroring broader Indian systematic thought.
Application: When scanning, account for guru substitutions and truncations; classify a verse as saṃkṛti when it deviates from the canonical gaṇa layout in rule-governed ways.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.209: definitions of prakṛti/vikṛti and named metres (Mattākrīḍā, Aṣṭabāṇa, Daśaka) in the same prosody section
FAQs
This verse treats chandas as a technical discipline: correct gaṇa-patterns and guru/laghu rules preserve the intended rhythm and accuracy of scriptural recitation.
It notes that when a guru syllable changes the expected flow, the pattern becomes a modified or ‘mixed’ form (saṃkṛti), i.e., an accepted variant arising from alteration of the regular scheme.
When chanting or digitizing Sanskrit, mark guru/laghu and gaṇas carefully; this helps maintain correct pronunciation, rhythm, and reliable text-to-audio alignment for study and ritual use.