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

ماترا پر مبنی اوزان پہلے بیان کیے گئے؛ اب میں یقیناً حروف پر مبنی اوزان کی توضیح کروں گا۔

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.