Shloka 1
Prastāra–Naṣṭa Procedures and Enumeration of Chandas
Laghu–Guru Computation
नामैकादशोत्तरद्विशशततमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच / प्रस्तार आद्यगो ऽथो लः परतुल्यो ऽथ पूर्वगः / नष्टमध्ये समेंऽके लः समे ऽर्धे विषमे गुरुः
nāmaikādaśottaradviśaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca / prastāra ādyago 'tho laḥ paratulyo 'tha pūrvagaḥ / naṣṭamadhye sameṃ'ke laḥ same 'rdhe viṣame guruḥ
سوت نے کہا—یہ دو سو بارہواں ادھیائے ہے۔ ‘پرستار’ طریقے میں آغاز کا نشان ‘ل’ ہے؛ پھر پچھلے نمونے کے مطابق ترتیب بنتی ہے۔ ‘نَشٹ’ (ازسرِنو تشکیل) طریقے میں عدد جفت ہو تو ‘ل’ رکھا جاتا ہے؛ آدھا بھی جفت ہو تو ‘ل’ ہی؛ اور اگر طاق ہو تو ‘گُرو’ (طویل/بھاری) مانا جاتا ہے۔
Sūta
Concept: Prastāra (systematic expansion) and Naṣṭa (reconstruction) procedures using ‘la’ and guru/laghu decisions based on even/odd (parity) of numbers and halves.
Vedantic Theme: Buddhi-niyama (disciplined intellect) and the idea that śabda-structure can be generated/recovered by rule—order underlying apparent complexity.
Application: Apply parity checks to generate or reconstruct metrical patterns; useful for students of prosody and for verifying manuscript readings.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.211.9 (transition from metre types to computational methods); Garuda Purana 1.212.2+ (expected continuation of prastāra/naṣṭa rules in the chapter)
FAQs
This verse frames Prastāra (listing metrical patterns) and Naṣṭa (reconstructing a pattern from an index) as practical rules for handling laghu–guru sequences, supporting correct chandas and precise recitation.
It gives a parity rule: if the index is even, place laghu (la); then examine the half—if the half is even, laghu again; if the half is odd, guru—thus deriving the metrical sequence step-by-step.
Use these rules to verify meter while chanting or editing Sanskrit texts—ensuring syllable-length accuracy (laghu/guru), which improves correctness in mantra, stotra, and śloka recitation.