Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

दिगर्कैर्भद्रकं भ्रौ न्रौ नरना गो यथाकृतिः / नजौ भश्वाश्वललितं जभौ जभलगा भवेत्

Transliteration

digarkairbhadrakaṃ bhrau nrau naranā go yathākṛtiḥ / najau bhaśvāśvalalitaṃ jabhau jabhalagā bhavet

Translation

‘திக்’ மற்றும் ‘அர்க’ கணச் சேர்க்கையால் ‘பத்ரகம்’ ஆகும்; ‘ப்ரௌ’ ‘ந்ரௌ’ என்பவற்றால் ‘நர’ ‘நாக’ எனச் சுட்டப்படும்; ‘கோ’ என்பது விதிப்படி அமைக்கப்பட வேண்டும். ‘ந-ஜௌ’ வந்தால் ‘பஷ்வ’; ‘அஷ்வ’ வந்தால் ‘அஷ்வ-லலித’; ‘ஜ-பௌ’ வந்தால் ‘ஜப’; இவ்வாறு ‘ஜப-லகா’ உருவாகிறது.

Word by Word

• दिगर्कैः: by ‘dig’ and ‘arka’ (markers)
• दिगर्कैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक् + अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• भद्रकम्: Bhadraka (name of a metre)
• भद्रकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• भ्रौ: in/at ‘bhrau’ (marker)
• भ्रौ: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रु (प्रातिपदिक; छन्दोगण-संज्ञा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (छन्दसि/परिभाषिक)

• न्रौ: in/at ‘nrau’ (marker)
• न्रौ: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्रु (प्रातिपदिक; छन्दोगण-संज्ञा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (छन्दसि/परिभाषिक)

• नरना: ‘naranā’ (marker-sequence)
• नरना: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + न (प्रातिपदिक; छन्दोगण-संज्ञा)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (परिभाषिक-संज्ञा)

• गो: ‘ga’ (marker)
• गो: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (छन्दो-चिह्न)

• यथाकृतिः: Yathākṛti (name of a metre)
• यथाकृतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समास

• नजौ: in/at ‘najāu’ (marker)
• नजौ: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नजु (प्रातिपदिक; छन्दोगण-संज्ञा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (छन्दसि/परिभाषिक)

• भश्वाश्वललितम्: Bhaśvāśvalalita (name of a metre)
• भश्वाश्वललितम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भश्व + अश्वललित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• जभौ: in/at ‘jabhau’ (marker)
• जभौ: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जभु (प्रातिपदिक; छन्दोगण-संज्ञा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (छन्दसि/परिभाषिक)

• जभलगा: Jabhalagā (name/marker-sequence)
• जभलगा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जभ + लग (प्रातिपदिक; छन्दोगण-संज्ञा)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (परिभाषिक-संज्ञा)

• भवेत्: would be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

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.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.209: continuing list of metres and gaṇa triggers; likely preceding/following verses define additional prakṛti/vikṛti patterns

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the importance of syllable-formation rules in the Garuda Purana?

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.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on rites for the departed?

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.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

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.