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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

غار جیسے چہرے اور نیند کے بوجھ والی ٹھہری ہوئی کیفیت کے باوجود وہ لَلیتا سی دکھائی دیتی ہے؛ ‘تَبھَौ جَرَौ’ یہ دو نشان بتائے گئے ہیں۔ اس کے حروف ناپ تول کے ہیں؛ ‘س–ج–س–سَے’ کے ساتھ مل کر وہ روشن ہوتی ہے، پھر ‘ن–نَौ’ اور ‘بھ–رَौ’ سے بھی۔

Word by Word
गुह-वक्त्रैःby the gaṇas ‘guha’ and ‘vaktra’
गुह-वक्त्रैः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootगुह (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; छन्दोगण-सूचक (technical)
चand
च:
Sambandha (Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक
सन्निद्रा(the metre) Sannidrā
सन्निद्रा:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootसन्निद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; छन्दोनाम
ललिता(the metre) Lalitā
ललिता:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootललिता (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; छन्दोनाम
स्यात्would be/is (defined as)
स्यात्:
Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन
तभौ(the gaṇas) ta and bhau
तभौ:
Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
TypeNoun
Rootतभौ (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; gaṇa-pair
जरौ(the gaṇas) ja and rau
जरौ:
Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
TypeNoun
Rootजरौ (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; gaṇa-pair
प्रमित-अक्षराhaving measured/fixed syllables
प्रमित-अक्षरा:
Visheshana (to implied metre-name)
TypeAdjective
Rootप्र + मि (धातु) → प्रमित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण
स-जससैःby the gaṇas sa and jasas
स-जससैः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootस (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक) + जसस (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; gaṇa-list as instrument
उज्ज्वला(the metre) Ujjvalā
उज्ज्वला:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootउज्ज्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; छन्दोनाम
तुbut/indeed
तु:
Sambandha (Discourse particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formनिपात
ननौ(the gaṇas) na and nau
ननौ:
Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
TypeNoun
Rootननौ (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; gaṇa-pair
भरौ(the gaṇas) bha and rau
भरौ:
Vishaya (Topic/विषय)
TypeNoun
Rootभरौ (छन्दोगण-नाम, प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, 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
V
Vishnu
G
Garuda

FAQs

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

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.

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.

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