उद्गीथ इति त्र्यक्षरमुपद्रव इति चतुरक्षरं त्रिभिस्त्रिभिः समं भवत्यक्षरमतिशिष्यते त्र्यक्षरं तत्समम् ॥ २.१०.३ ॥
udgītha iti tryakṣaramupadrava iti caturakṣaraṃ tribhistribhiḥ samaṃ bhavatyakṣaramatiśiṣyate tryakṣaraṃ tatsamam || 2.10.3 ||
3. The word udgītha has three syllables. The word upadrava has four syllables. If they are taken as three-syllabled they are equal. In that case, the syllable va in upadrava becomes superfluous. They are equal so far as their three syllables are concerned.
Word-for-word explanation:
Udgīthaḥ iti tri-akṣaram, the word udgītha is three-syllabled; upadravaḥ iti cataḥ-akṣaram, the word upadrava is four-syllabled; tribhiḥ tribhiḥ samam bhavati, if they are taken as three-syllabled they become the same; akṣaram atiśiṣyate, one syllable becomes superfluous; tri-akṣaram tat samam, taken as three-syllabled they become identical.
Commentary:
The syllable va, if taken away, makes no difference when a person recites the hymn.