Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

चतुर्दशलघुः स्याच्च श्रेष्ठा शशिकला सगा / रसग्रहयतिः स्रक्स्रा वसुशैलयतिस्तथा

Transliteration

caturdaśalaghuḥ syācca śreṣṭhā śaśikalā sagā / rasagrahayatiḥ sraksrā vasuśailayatistathā

Translation

亦有名为“十四轻（音节）”之韵律，另有一体被尊为上妙；同样还有名为“月分”、“具伽那（gaṇa）”、“味—摄—顿挫（rasa–graha–yati）”、“花鬘饰”、以及“八神—山—顿挫（vasu–śaila–yati）”等韵律。

Word by Word

• चतुर्दश: fourteen
• चतुर्दश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दश (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगुसमासः (चतुर्+दश); नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम् (संख्याविशेषणरूपेण)

• लघुः: (a metre) Laghu
• लघुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लघु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• स्यात्: should be / may be
• स्यात्: Vidhi (Injunctive/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

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

• श्रेष्ठा: (a metre) Śreṣṭhā
• श्रेष्ठा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• शशिकला: (a metre) Śaśikalā
• शशिकला: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशि+कला (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शशेः कला); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• सगा: (a metre) Sagā
• सगा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सगा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• रसग्रहयतिः: (a metre) Rasagrahayati
• रसग्रहयतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस+ग्रह+यति (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (रस-ग्रह-यतिः; यतिशब्दः प्रधानः); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• स्रक्स्रा: (a metre) Sraksrā
• स्रक्स्रा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रक्स्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• वसुशैलयतिः: (a metre) Vasuśailayati
• वसुशैलयतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु+शैल+यति (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (वसु-शैल-यतिः; यतिशब्दः प्रधानः); स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• तथा: likewise / also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम् (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya, within a descriptive/technical section)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Chandas-jñāna: naming and recognizing metrical forms as a discipline of correct speech and textual transmission.

Vedantic Theme: Śabda as pramāṇa (authoritative means of knowledge) and the need for precision in śruti/smṛti recitation.

Application: Use as a checklist for identifying metres in recitation/composition; supports accurate chanting, memorization, and commentary work.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.209 (prosody section; lists of gaṇa/yati and metre-names); Piṅgala-chandas terminology implied by gaṇa/yati naming conventions

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

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

This verse lists specific metres and pause-patterns (yati), indicating that correct metrical form supports accurate recitation and preservation of the text in ritual and study.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead, it belongs to a technical section on metres used for composing or chanting verses, which underpins how teachings are transmitted.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When chanting or teaching the Garuda Purana, follow proper metre and yati (pauses) to maintain clarity, pronunciation discipline, and faithful oral transmission.