Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

मन्दाक्रान्तब्धिषड्नगैर्मभनास्ततगा गुरुः / नर्दटकं नजभजा जलौ गो यतिरेव च

Transliteration

mandākrāntabdhiṣaḍnagairmabhanāstatagā guruḥ / nardaṭakaṃ najabhajā jalau go yatireva ca

Translation

ที่นี่ระบุชื่อฉันท์ไว้ว่า มันทากรานตา, อัพธิษัฑนคา, มาภนา, ตตคา, คุรุ; และยังมี นรรทฏกะ, นชภชา, ชะเลา, โค, ยติ ด้วยเช่นกัน॥

Word by Word

• मन्दाक्रान्त: Mandākrāntā (metre)
• मन्दाक्रान्त: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्दा (प्रातिपदिक) + आक्रान्त (कृदन्त; √क्रम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (छन्दः-नाम); कर्मधारयः (मन्दा + आक्रान्ता)

• अब्दिषड्नगैः: with ocean/six-mountains (as a metrical count-marker)
• अब्दिषड्नगैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अब्दि (प्रातिपदिक) + षट् (प्रातिपदिक) + नग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्विगुसमासः (षड् + नग) तथा अब्धि-सम्बद्धः (count-marker)

• मभनाः: mabhanā-s (metrical groups)
• मभनाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (छन्दः-गणसूचक-शब्दः)

• ततगाः: tatagā-s (metrical groups)
• ततगाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ततग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (छन्दः-गणसूचक-शब्दः)

• गुरुः: heavy (guru syllable)
• गुरुः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (prosodic ‘heavy’)

• नर्दटकम्: Nardaṭaka (metre)
• नर्दटकम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्दटक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (छन्दः-नाम)

• नजभजा: najabhajā (metrical pattern)
• नजभजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नजभज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (छन्दः-गणसूचक-शब्दः)

• जलौ: jalau (two ‘jala’ groups)
• जलौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (छन्दः-गणसूचक-शब्दः)

• गो: go (metrical marker)
• गो: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (छन्दः-गणसूचक-शब्दः)

• यतिः: caesura/pause
• यतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (prosodic caesura)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

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

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Systematization of knowledge: naming and grouping metres to enable accurate composition and recitation.

Vedantic Theme: Order (ṛta-like regularity) in language; disciplined cognition through classification (saṅgraha).

Application: Memorize metre-names and their markers; use the list as an index when scanning verses or composing in classical metres.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.209.30–34 (continuous prosody catalogue)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of chandas (metre) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse functions as a metrical/prosodic note, indicating specific chandas names used for verses—helping preserve correct chanting rhythm and textual integrity during recitation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

Indirectly: it does not describe the soul’s journey itself, but supports accurate transmission of the teaching by listing metres, which is important when the Garuda Purana is read in ritual contexts connected with death and post-death instruction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When reading or commissioning Garuda Purana recitation (e.g., during śrāddha or memorial readings), use trained reciters who maintain proper chandas and pronunciation to avoid textual distortion and to keep the ritual reading disciplined.