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Shrutbodha

Added to library: September 2, 2025

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First page of Shrutbodha

Summary

This document appears to be a preface and initial pages of the book "Shrutbodha" (श्रुतबोध) by Mahakavi Kalidasa (महाकवि श्रीकालिदास). Here's a comprehensive summary in English based on the provided text:

Book Title: Shrutbodha (श्रुतबोध) Author: Mahakavi Kalidasa (महाकवि श्रीकालिदास) Commentary: 'Vimala' Sanskrit-Hindi Commentary (विमला' संस्कृत-हिन्दीटीकोपेतः) Commentator: Pandit Shri Kanaklal Thakur (पण्डित श्रीकनकलालठक्करः) Compiler/Editor: Pandit Shri Brahmashankar Mishra (पण्डित श्रीब्रह्मशङ्करमिश्रः) Publisher: Chaukhamba Vidyabhavan, Varanasi (चौखम्बा विद्याभवन, वाराणसी) Year of Publication: 1968 (V.S. 2025)

Overall Purpose: The "Shrutbodha" is a text on prosody (chhandashastra - छन्दोमन्थ), meaning it deals with the rules of meter and verse in Sanskrit poetry. The book aims to be a guide for students, providing a clear understanding of various poetic meters.

Key Elements and Content:

  1. Preface (प्राकथनम्):

    • The preface highlights the importance of "Shrutbodha" as a highly useful text for understanding prosody.
    • It mentions that while many commentaries exist for this work, the current edition, with the "Vimala" commentary, has been prepared for the benefit of students, especially for examinations.
    • The author (or editor) expresses hope that this commentary will be very helpful for students in their examinations.

  2. Gana-Namah (गणनाम - Name of Syllabic Groups):

    • Page 4 presents a table that assigns a 'Rupa' (रूप - form) represented by combinations of short (laghu - लघु) and long (guru - गुरु) syllables (represented by 'I' for laghu and 'S' for guru), a 'Devata' (देवता - deity), a 'Phala' (फल - result/fruit), and other attributes like 'Mitradi' (मित्रादि - friendly/unfriendly/neutral).
    • The eight ganas (groups of syllables) and their characteristics are listed:
      • Magana (मगण): SSS (Guru, Guru, Guru) - Deity: Earth (भूमिः) - Result: Bestows Lakshmi/Prosperity (श्रियमातनोति).
      • Yagana (यगण): ISS (Guru, Laghu, Laghu) - Deity: Water (जलम्) - Result: Growth/Increase (वृद्धिं).
      • Ragana (रगण): SIS (Laghu, Guru, Laghu) - Deity: Fire (अग्निः) - Result: Death (मृत्युः).
      • Sagana (सगण): IIS (Laghu, Laghu, Guru) - Deity: Wind/Air (वायुः) - Result: Travel to foreign lands/far away (परदेशदूरगमनं).
      • Tagana (तगण): SSI (Guru, Guru, Laghu) - Deity: Sky/Ether (नभः) - Result: Zero/Nothingness (शून्यं फलम्).
      • Jagana (जगण): ISI (Laghu, Guru, Laghu) - Deity: Sun (सूर्यः) - Result: Disease (रुजमाददाति).
      • Bhagana (भगण): SII (Guru, Laghu, Laghu) - Deity: Moon (चन्द्रमा) - Result: Pure fame (यशो निर्मलं).
      • Nagana (नगण): III (Laghu, Laghu, Laghu) - Deity: Heaven (स्वर्गः) - Result: Happiness (सुखं).
    • The text explains that intelligent people describe the results of these ganas.

  3. Mantras for Ganas (गणानां मन्त्राः):

    • Page 5 provides simple invocations or mantras for each of the eight ganas, for example, "Om Magramaya Namah" (ॐ म मगणाय नमः).

  4. Detailed Table of Gana Attributes (Page 6):

    • This page presents a much more extensive table that maps each gana to:
      • Number (संख्या)
      • Name (गणनाम)
      • Form (रूप)
      • Deity (देवता)
      • Nakshatra (नक्षत्र - constellation)
      • Rashi (राशि - zodiac sign)
      • Day of birth (जन्मदिन)
      • Caste (जाति)
      • Month (मास)
      • Paksha (पक्ष - lunar fortnight)
      • Tithi (तिथि - lunar day)
      • Varna (वर्ण - color)
      • Country (देश)
      • City (पुर)
      • Mountain (पर्वत)
      • Friend/Enemy etc. (मित्रादि)
      • Result (फल)
      • Wife (स्त्री)
      • Indicating Mechanism (ज्ञापकयन्त्रम)
    • This table is quite detailed, assigning specific attributes to each gana, suggesting a complex system of astrological and symbolic associations within this system of prosody.

  5. List of Meters (छन्दः सूची):

    • Page 7 provides a numbered list of various meters covered in the book, starting from the foundational "Grantha Pratidnya" (ग्रन्थप्रतिज्ञा - declaration of the text) and "Guru Vichar Paribhasha" (गुरुविचारपरिभाषा - definition of guru consideration), then listing the Gana Lakshana (गणलक्षण - characteristics of ganas).
    • It then lists many specific meters, including: Arya (आर्या), Giti (गीति), Upagiti (उपगीति), Aksharapankti (अक्षरपंक्ति), Shashivadana (शशिवदना), Madhalekha (मदलेखा), Anushtup (अनुष्टुप्), Padya (पद्य), Manavaka Kreeda (माणवक क्रीड), Nagaswaroopini (नगस्वरूपिणी), Vidyunmala (विद्युन्माला), Champakamala (चम्पकमाला), Manibandha (मणिबन्ध), Shalini (शालिनी), Mandakranta (मन्दाक्रान्ता), Hamsi (हंसी), Dodhak (दोधक), Indravajra (इन्द्रवज्रा), Upendravajra (उपेन्द्रवज्रा), Upajati (उपजाति), Akhyanaki (आख्यानको), Rathoddhata (रथोद्धता), Swagata (स्वागत), Vaishvadevi (वैश्वदेवी), Totaka (तोटक), Bhujangaprayata (भुजङ्गप्रयात), Drutavilambita (द्रुतविलम्बित), Pramitakshara (प्रमिताक्षरा), Harinipruta (हरिणीप्लुता), Vamsastha (वंशस्थ), Indravamsha (इन्द्रवंशा), Prabhavati (प्रभावती), Harshini (प्रहर्षिणी), Vasanta Tilaka (वसन्ततिलका), Malini (मालिनी), Harini (हरिणी), Shikharini (शिखरिणी), Prithvi (पृथिवी), Shardula Vikridita (शार्दूलविक्रीडित), and Sragdhara (स्रग्धरा).

  6. Textual Content (Pages 8 onwards):

    • The subsequent pages begin with the actual verses from the "Shrutbodha" and their commentaries.
    • Grantha Pratidnya (ग्रन्थप्रतिज्ञा): The opening verse by Kalidasa states his intention to explain the "Shrutbodha" concisely, which will enable one to understand the characteristics of meters simply by hearing them.
    • Guru Vichar Paribhasha (गुरुविचारपरिभाषा): This section defines what constitutes a "guru" (long syllable) in Sanskrit prosody, including:
      • Syllables with conjunct consonants (संयुक्ताचं).
      • Long vowels (दीर्घ - ā, ī, ū, etc.).
      • Syllables with anusvara (अनुस्वार - nasalization symbol, like 'om').
      • Syllables with visarga (विसर्ग - exhalation symbol, like 'aha').
      • Syllables at the end of a pada (foot of a verse) can be considered guru optionally (विकल्पेन).
    • Gana Lakshana (गणलक्षणम्): This section explains how the laghu/guru nature of syllables within the eight ganas (Magana, Yagana, Ragana, Sagana, Tagana, Jagana, Bhagana, Nagana) changes depending on their position (beginning, middle, end). For example, it states that Bha, Ja, Sa ganas have a guru in their respective positions (end, middle, end), while Ya, Ra, Ta have a laghu. Ma and Na ganas are described as having both guru and laghu properties in different positions (or all guru/all laghu depending on interpretation of the sloka).
    • Specific Meter Definitions: The text then proceeds to define each meter listed in the "Chhandah Suchi" (Page 7), providing the specific rules for syllable patterns, vowel lengths, and caesura (virama/yati) for each. For instance, it defines Arya Chhandah (आर्या छन्दः) by the number of matras (morae) in each pada.

In essence, this document provides the introductory material and the foundational rules of Sanskrit prosody as laid out by Kalidasa in the "Shrutbodha." It details the eight fundamental syllabic groups (ganas) and their associated symbolic meanings, and then systematically defines numerous meters with their specific metrical structures. The commentary aims to make these complex rules accessible to students.