Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

ननरसैर्लगयुक्तैश्च अपवाहाख्यकं यतिः / गुहैः षड्भी रसैर्बाणैर्मोनाः षट्सगगा गणाः

Transliteration

nanarasairlagayuktaiśca apavāhākhyakaṃ yatiḥ / guhaiḥ ṣaḍbhī rasairbāṇairmonāḥ ṣaṭsagagā gaṇāḥ

Translation

与诸般“rasa”（味、情味）及音节“la”相合时，苦行者（yati）以“Apavāha”之名而示。又以暗语“guhā”、六重之组、“rasa”与“箭”之称，指称“monāḥ”（寂默者）及六组“sagagā”。

Word by Word

• nana: the ‘na-na’ gaṇa (metrical group)
• nana: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; छन्दः-गणनाम (metre-technical term)

• rasaiḥ: by rasas (here: ‘ra’ syllables / metrical markers)
• rasaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• laga-yuktaiḥ: combined with ‘laga’
• laga-yuktaiḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: laga (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (कृदन्त; √yuj धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘लगा’ इति उपलक्षणेन युक्तैः = ‘having laga’

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

• apavāha-ākhyakam: called ‘apavāha’
• apavāha-ākhyakam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apavāha (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘अपवाह’ इति आख्यं यस्य तत्

• yatiḥ: the yati (metrical pause)
• yatiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; छन्दः-परिभाषा (metrical term: caesura/pause)

• guhaiḥ: by ‘guha’ (metrical markers)
• guhaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; छन्दः-गणनाम (metre-technical term)

• ṣaḍbhīḥ: with six
• ṣaḍbhīḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘षड्’ संख्याविशेषण

• rasaiḥ: by rasas (ra-syllables/markers)
• rasaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• bāṇaiḥ: by ‘bāṇa’ (markers)
• bāṇaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; छन्दः-गणनाम (metre-technical term)

• monāḥ: the ‘mona’ gaṇas
• monāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mona (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; छन्दः-गणनाम (metre-technical term)

• ṣaṭ-sagagāḥ: six ‘sagagā’ (groups)
• ṣaṭ-sagagāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्याशब्द) + sagagā (प्रातिपदिक; छन्दः-गणनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; द्विगुसमासः (numeral compound)

• gaṇāḥ: groups (gaṇas)
• gaṇāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda, Vinata-putra)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.209 (context: chandas/gaṇa-saṅketa, code-words for gaṇas/rasas); Pingala Chandas-sutra tradition (gaṇa notation: ya-ma-ta-ra-ja-bha-na-sa-la-ga)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Yati (ascetic)

FAQs

What is the importance of coded terms (like rasa, bāṇa, guha) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses traditional mnemonic/code-words to compress technical mantra or classification details; it signals that the passage is not narrative but an encoded enumeration meant for trained recitation/nyāsa contexts.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

Indirectly: rather than describing the after-death journey, it frames a practice-oriented, technical layer (mantra/nyāsa terminology) that supports dharmic discipline—such disciplines are presented elsewhere as aiding purity and auspicious destiny.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat such verses as technical: consult a traditional commentary/teacher before applying; as a general takeaway, cultivate disciplined speech (mauna), restraint, and focused recitation rather than improvising ritual meanings.