Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

गुहवक्त्रैश्च सन्निद्रा ललिता स्यात्तभौ जरौ / प्रमिताक्षरा सजससैरुज्ज्वला तु ननौ भरौ

Transliteration

guhavaktraiśca sannidrā lalitā syāttabhau jarau / pramitākṣarā sajasasairujjvalā tu nanau bharau

Translation

గుహలాంటిన ముఖభావంతో, నిద్రాభారంతో నిశ్చలంగా ఉన్నా ఆమె లలితగా కనిపిస్తుంది; ‘తభౌ జరౌ’ అనే రెండు లక్షణాలు చెప్పబడ్డాయి. అక్షరాలు మితంగా ఉండి, ‘స–జ–స–సై’ తో కలిసినప్పుడు ఆమె ఉజ్జ్వలమవుతుంది; తరువాత ‘న–నౌ’ మరియు ‘భ–రౌ’ తోనూ।

Word by Word

• गुह-वक्त्रैः: by the gaṇas ‘guha’ and ‘vaktra’
• गुह-वक्त्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; छन्दोगण-सूचक (technical)

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

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

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

• स्यात्: would be/is (defined as)
• स्यात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

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

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

• प्रमित-अक्षरा: having measured/fixed syllables
• प्रमित-अक्षरा: Visheshana (to implied metre-name)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + मि (धातु) → प्रमित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• स-जससैः: by the gaṇas sa and jasas
• स-जससैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक) + जसस (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; gaṇa-list as instrument

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

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात

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

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Prosodic encoding through gaṇa strings; the verse uses personification and paradox to mark metrical features (measured syllables; sequences like sa-ja-sa-sai, na-nau, bha-rau).

Vedantic Theme: Śabda as a subtle body of meaning: the same sound-pattern can appear ‘sleepy’ or ‘radiant’ depending on arrangement—appearance vs structure.

Application: In scansion, verify measured syllable counts and match gaṇa clusters; use the mnemonic imagery (sleep/decay/radiance) to remember transitions between gaṇa sequences.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.209.15-19 (gaṇa-coding mnemonics across metres)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of syllables (akṣara) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes that sound-units are to be kept “measured” (pramita), implying disciplined pronunciation and structured syllabic groupings for ritual efficacy.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana practices around death rituals?

Garuda Purana frequently links ritual outcomes to correct recitation; here the focus is on regulated syllables and specific sound-clusters, reflecting the text’s concern for precise chanting in rites of protection and purification.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Chant slowly and consistently, keeping pronunciation steady; treat recitation as a disciplined practice rather than hurried reading, especially when used in prayer or ritual contexts.