Shloka 1

Chandaḥśāstra: Mātrā–Varṇa, Guru–Laghu, Gaṇa, and Metre Types

Devanagari script

ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच / वासुदेवं गुरुं नत्वा गणं शम्भुं सरस्वतीम् / मात्रावर्णप्रभेदेन च्छन्दो वक्ष्ये ऽल्पबुद्धये

Transliteration

'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca / vāsudevaṃ guruṃ natvā gaṇaṃ śambhuṃ sarasvatīm / mātrāvarṇaprabhedena cchando vakṣye 'lpabuddhaye

Translation

苏多说道：我先顶礼婆苏提婆——至上导师，又礼敬伽那（象头神伽内沙）、商婆（湿婆）与辩才天女萨拉斯瓦蒂；随后我将依 mātrā（音量/拍）与 varṇa（音节之声）的差别，为慧力浅薄者宣说诗律之学（chandas）。

Word by Word

• अध्यायः: chapter
• अध्यायः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सूतः: Sūta
• सूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वासुदेवम्: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गुरुम्: teacher, guru
• गुरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नत्वा: having bowed to
• नत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having bowed'

• गणम्: Gaṇa (group; here Gaṇeśa)
• गणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शम्भुम्: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सरस्वतीम्: Sarasvatī
• सरस्वतीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मात्रावर्णप्रभेदेन: by (means of) distinctions of mātrā and varṇa
• मात्रावर्णप्रभेदेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; समासः: मात्रा-वर्ण-प्रभेदेन = 'by the distinction of morae and syllables/letters'

• छन्दः: metre/prosody
• छन्दः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्मरूपे) एकवचन; रूपम्: छन्दः (छन्दस्-शब्दस्य)

• वक्ष्ये: I shall explain
• वक्ष्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• अल्पबुद्धये: for the slow-witted / of little understanding
• अल्पबुद्धये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; समासः: अल्पा बुद्धिः यस्य/यस्यै (for one of little understanding)

Speaker

Sūta

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Knowledge is best begun with praṇāma to the divine; chandas is taught as a śāstra for the welfare of learners.

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha as support for vidyā; harmonizing devotion and disciplined study.

Application: Begin study/creative work with invocation; approach learning with humility; teach in accessible steps (mātrā/varṇa distinctions).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.207 (chandas-prakaraṇa opening invocation; internal anchor)

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva
• Gaṇa (Gaṇeśa)
• Śambhu (Śiva)
• Sarasvatī

FAQs

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

This verse frames chandas as a teachable discipline grounded in mātrā (time-units) and varṇa (syllabic sounds), supporting accurate recitation and comprehension of scripture.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s main teachings on dharma and the afterlife?

It serves as a formal opening to a technical section: by ensuring correct metre and pronunciation, the text safeguards faithful transmission of teachings that elsewhere address dharma, rites, and post-death doctrines.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach study with humility and proper method: learn basic mātrā/varṇa rules for clearer chanting, and begin any learning with a respectful invocation to the sources of guidance and speech.