Chandah-shastra: The Catalogue of Fixed Syllabic Meters

Verse 1 (garuda.1.209.1)

सूत उवाच । श्रीरुक्था गेन सा ज्ञेया उत्युक्था स्त्री गुरुद्वयम् । मो नारी रो मृगी मध्या मगौ कन्या प्रतिष्ठया

sūta uvāca śrīrukthā gena sā jñeyā utyukthā strī gurudvayam mo nārī ro mṛgī madhyā magau kanyā pratiṣṭhayā

Suta said: 'Shri' is the Ukta meter, to be known by a single guru; Atyukta has two guru syllables in feminine form; 'Nari,' formed with a ma-gana, and 'Mrigi,' with a ra-gana, are called Madhya; with ma-ma ganas, 'Kanya' is the Pratishtha meter.

Verse 2 (garuda.1.209.2)

भो गौ पङ्क्तिः सुप्रातिष्ठा तनुमध्या तयौ स्मृता । नयाभ्यां बालललिता गायत्रीच्छन्द एव हि

bho gau paṅktiḥ suprātiṣṭhā tanumadhyā tayau smṛtā nayābhyāṁ bālalalitā gāyatrīcchanda eva hi

With bha-gana and guru, 'Pankti' is Supratishtha; with ta-ya ganas, 'Tanumadhya' is remembered; with na-ya ganas, 'Balalalita' is formed, and this is the Gayatri meter.

Verse 3 (garuda.1.209.3)

मसगैर्मदलेखा स्यादुष्णिक्छन्दः स्मृतं बुधैः । भौ गौ चित्रपदा ख्याता विद्युन्माला ममौ गगौ

masagairmadalekhā syāduṣṇikchandaḥ smṛtaṁ budhaiḥ bhau gau citrapadā khyātā vidyunmālā mamau gagau

With ma-sa-ga ganas, 'Madalekha' is formed, which the learned call the Ushnik meter; with bha-ga ganas, 'Chitrapada' is renowned; with ma-ma and ga-ga, 'Vidyunmala' is formed.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.209.4)

माणवकं भात्तलगा म्नौ गौ हंसरुतं स्मृतम् । समानिका रजगला जरला गः प्रमाणिका । आभ्यामन्यद्वितानं स्यादनुष्टुप्छन्द ईरितम्

māṇavakaṁ bhāttalagā mnau gau haṁsarutaṁ smṛtam samānikā rajagalā jaralā gaḥ pramāṇikā ābhyāmanyadvitānaṁ syādanuṣṭupchanda īritam

With bha-ta-la-ga, 'Manavaka' is formed; with mnau-gau, 'Hamsaruta' is remembered; with ra-ja-ga-la, 'Samanika,' and with ja-ra-la, 'Pramanika' is formed — extended together from these two, the Anushtubh meter is declared.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.209.5)

रनसैः स्याद्धलमुखी नौ मः शिशुभृता भवेत् । बृहतीछन्द इत्युक्तं स्मौ जगौ स विराजितम्

ranasaiḥ syāddhalamukhī nau maḥ śiśubhṛtā bhavet bṛhatīchanda ityuktaṁ smau jagau sa virājitam

With ra-na-sa ganas, 'Halamukhi' is formed; with nau-ma, 'Shishubhrita' is formed — this is called the Brihati meter; with sa-mau and ja-gau, 'Savirajita' is formed.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.209.6)

पणवं स्यान्मनयगैर्मयूरसारिणी भवेत् । रजाभ्याञ्च रगाभ्याञ्च रुक्मवती भमौ सगौ

paṇavaṁ syānmanayagairmayūrasāriṇī bhavet rajābhyāñca ragābhyāñca rukmavatī bhamau sagau

By the name Panava, with ma-na-ya ganas, 'Mayurasarini' is formed; with ra-ja and ra-ga, 'Rukmavati'; with bha-ma and sa-ga,

Verse 7 (garuda.1.209.7)

मत्ता मभसगैर्युक्ता नरजा गो मनोरमा । पङ्क्तिच्छन्दः समाख्यातं जसता गावुपस्थितम्

mattā mabhasagairyuktā narajā go manoramā paṅkticchandaḥ samākhyātaṁ jasatā gāvupasthitam

'Matta' is formed; joined with ma-bha-sa-ga and na-ra-ja-ga, 'Manorama' is formed; thus is the Pankti meter declared, in which ja-sa-ta-ga occur.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.209.8)

तौ जो गाविन्द्रवज्रा स्याज्जतज्गा गुपपूर्विका

tau jo gāvindravajrā syājjatajgā gupapūrvikā

With ta-ja-ga, 'Indravajra' is formed; with ja-ta-ja-ga, 'Upajati' is formed, of the compound quality-first kind.

Verse 9 (garuda.1.209.9)

उपजातयोऽन्याद्यन्ताः सुमुखी नजजा लगौ । भभभा गौ दोधकं स्याच्छालिनी मतता गगौ

upajātayo'nyādyantāḥ sumukhī najajā lagau bhabhabhā gau dodhakaṁ syācchālinī matatā gagau

When differing at the beginning or end, the various Upajati forms arise; with na-ja-ja and la-ga, 'Sumukhi' is formed; with bha-bha-bha-ga-ga, 'Dodhaka,' and with ma-ta-ta-ga-ga, 'Shalini' is formed.

Verse 10 (garuda.1.209.10)

अब्धिलोकैश्च विच्छेदो वातोर्ंमो ममता गगौ । श्रीर्भतौ ननगाः प्रोक्ता पञ्चभिः षडूभिरेव च

abdhilokaiśca vicchedo vātorṁmo mamatā gagau śrīrbhatau nanagāḥ proktā pañcabhiḥ ṣaḍūbhireva ca

A caesura falls at the fourth and fourteenth syllables; with vatorma, ma-ma-ta-ga-ga, 'Shri' is formed; with bha-ta and na-na-ga, a pause falls at the fifth and sixth.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.209.11)

मगना नो गो भ्रमरविलासितमुदाहृतम् । रथोद्धतार्नौ रलगाः स्वागता रनभा गगौ

maganā no go bhramaravilāsitamudāhṛtam rathoddhatārnau ralagāḥ svāgatā ranabhā gagau

With ma-ga-na and na-ga, 'Bhramaravilasita' is declared; with a-nau-ra-la-ga, 'Rathoddhata'; with ra-na-bha and ga-ga, 'Svagata' is formed.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.209.12)

वृत्ता ननौ सगौ गः स्यान्नौ रलौ गः समद्रिका । रजरा ल्गौ श्येनिका स्याज्जसता गौ शिखण्डितम् । त्रिष्टुप्छन्दः समाख्यातं पिङ्गलेन महात्मना

vṛttā nanau sagau gaḥ syānnau ralau gaḥ samadrikā rajarā lgau śyenikā syājjasatā gau śikhaṇḍitam triṣṭupchandaḥ samākhyātaṁ piṅgalena mahātmanā

With na-na and sa-ga-ga, 'Vritta' is formed; with nau-ra-lau-ga, 'Samudrika'; with ra-ja-ra-la-ga, 'Shyenika'; with ja-sa-ta-ga, 'Shikhandita' is formed — this the great sage Pingala has called the Trishtubh meter.

Verse 13 (garuda.1.209.13)

रनौ भसौ चन्द्रवर्त्म वंशस्थं स्याज्जतौ जरौ । ततो जराविन्द्रवंशा वेदसैस्तोटकं स्मृतम् । न्भौ भ्रौ द्रुतविलम्बितं पुटश्च स्यान्ननौ मयौ

ranau bhasau candravartma vaṁśasthaṁ syājjatau jarau tato jarāvindravaṁśā vedasaistoṭakaṁ smṛtam nbhau bhrau drutavilambitaṁ puṭaśca syānnanau mayau

With ra-nau-bha-sau, 'Chandravartma'; with ja-tau-ja-rau, 'Vamshastha'; thereafter with ja-rau, 'Indravamsha'; with a pause at the fourteenth, 'Totaka' is remembered; with na-bhau-bhrau, 'Drutavilambita'; with na-nau-ma-yau, 'Puta' is formed.

Verse 14 (garuda.1.209.14)

वसुवेदैश्च विरतिर्मुदितवदना त्वियम् । ननररैः समाख्याता नयना यस्तथा भवेत्

vasuvedaiśca viratirmuditavadanā tviyam nanararaiḥ samākhyātā nayanā yastathā bhavet

With a caesura at the eighteenth, 'Mudita-vadana' is formed; with na-na-ra-ra, 'Nayana' too is formed.

Verse 15 (garuda.1.209.15)

सा तु कुसुमविचित्रा जलोद्धतगती रसैः । जसौ जसौ च पादेषु चतूरैः स्त्रग्विणी मता

sā tu kusumavicitrā jaloddhatagatī rasaiḥ jasau jasau ca pādeṣu catūraiḥ stragviṇī matā

The same is 'Kusumavichitra'; with a caesura at the sixth, 'Jalodhatagati'; with ja-sa and ja-sa ganas in all four padas, 'Sragvini' is held.

Verse 16 (garuda.1.209.16)

भुजङ्गप्रयातं वृत्तं चतुभिर्यैः प्रकीर्तितम् । प्रयंवदा नभज्रैश्च मणिमाला तयौ तयौ

bhujaṅgaprayātaṁ vṛttaṁ catubhiryaiḥ prakīrtitam prayaṁvadā nabhajraiśca maṇimālā tayau tayau

With four ya-ganas, the meter 'Bhujangaprayata' is declared; with na-bha-ja-ra, 'Priyamvada'; with ta-yau-ta-yau, 'Manimala' is formed.

Verse 17 (garuda.1.209.17)

गुहवक्त्रैश्च सन्निद्रा ललिता स्यात्तभौ जरौ । प्रमिताक्षरा सजससैरुज्ज्वला तु ननौ भरौ

guhavaktraiśca sannidrā lalitā syāttabhau jarau pramitākṣarā sajasasairujjvalā tu nanau bharau

With a caesura at the ninth, 'Sannidra'; with ta-bhau-ja-rau, 'Lalita'; with sa-ja-sa-sa, 'Pramitakshara'; with na-nau-bha-rau, 'Ujjvala' is formed.

Verse 18 (garuda.1.209.18)

ममौ ययौ वैश्वदेवी पञ्चाश्वैश्च यतिर्भवेत् । मभौ समौ जलधरमालाब्ध्यन्त्यैर्यतिभवेत्

mamau yayau vaiśvadevī pañcāśvaiśca yatirbhavet mabhau samau jaladharamālābdhyantyairyatibhavet

With ma-mau-ya-yau, 'Vaishvadevi' is formed, with a caesura at the tenth; with ma-bhau-sa-mau, 'Jaladharamala' is formed, with a caesura at the eighth.

Verse 19 (garuda.1.209.19)

नौ ततौ गः क्षमावृत्तं तुरगैश्च रसैर्यतिः । प्रहर्षिणी मनौ ज्रौ गा वह्निभिर्दशभिर्यतिः

nau tatau gaḥ kṣamāvṛttaṁ turagaiśca rasairyatiḥ praharṣiṇī manau jrau gā vahnibhirdaśabhiryatiḥ

With nau-ta-tau-ga, 'Kshamavritta' is formed, with a caesura at the seventh; with ma-nau-jrau-ga, 'Praharshini' is formed, with a caesura at the tenth.

Verse 20 (garuda.1.209.20)

जभौ सजौ गो रुचिरा चतुर्भिश्च ग्रहैर्यतिः । मत्तमयूरं मतयाः सगौ देवग्रहैर्यतिः

jabhau sajau go rucirā caturbhiśca grahairyatiḥ mattamayūraṁ matayāḥ sagau devagrahairyatiḥ

With ja-bhau-sa-jau-go, 'Ruchira' is formed, with a caesura at the fourth; in Mattamayura, with ma-ta-yau-sa-gau, with a caesura at the eighth.

Verse 21 (garuda.1.209.21)

मञ्जुभाषिणी सज्सा ज्गौ सुनन्दिनी सजसा मगौ । ननौ ततौ चन्द्रिका गः सप्तभिश्च रसैर्यतिः

mañjubhāṣiṇī sajsā jgau sunandinī sajasā magau nanau tatau candrikā gaḥ saptabhiśca rasairyatiḥ

With sa-ja-sa-ja-gau, 'Manjubhashini'; with sa-ja-sa-ma-gau, 'Sunandini'; with na-nau-ta-tau-ga, 'Chandrika' is formed, with a caesura at the sixth.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.209.22)

असम्बाधा मतनसा गगौ बाणग्रहैर्यतिः । ननराः सो लधुगुरुः स्वरैः प्रोक्तापराजिता

asambādhā matanasā gagau bāṇagrahairyatiḥ nanarāḥ so ladhuguruḥ svaraiḥ proktāparājitā

With ma-ta-na-sa-ga-ga, 'Asambadha' is formed, with a caesura at the fifth; with na-na-ra-sa-la-guru, with the vowels, 'Aparajita' is declared.

Verse 23 (garuda.1.209.23)

ननौ भनौ प्रहरणकलिकेयं लगौ तथा । वसन्ततिलका सिंहोन्नता तभ्जा जगौ गुरुः

nanau bhanau praharaṇakalikeyaṁ lagau tathā vasantatilakā siṁhonnatā tabhjā jagau guruḥ

With na-nau-bha-nau, 'Praharanakalika' is formed, together with la-ga; with ta-bha-ja-ja-ga-guru, 'Vasantatilaka' and 'Simhonnata' are formed.

Verse 24 (garuda.1.209.24)

भजौ सनौ गगाविन्दुवदनाथ सुकेशरम् । नरना रलगाः पादे शर्करी प्रतिपादिता

bhajau sanau gagāvinduvadanātha sukeśaram naranā ralagāḥ pāde śarkarī pratipāditā

With bha-jau-sa-nau-ga-ga, 'Induvadana' and 'Sukeshara' are formed; with na-ra-na-ra-la-ga in the pada, 'Sharkari' is set forth.

Verse 25 (garuda.1.209.25)

चतुर्दशलघुः स्याच्च श्रेष्ठा शशिकला सगा । रसग्रहयतिः स्रक्स्रा वसुशैलयतिस्तथा

caturdaśalaghuḥ syācca śreṣṭhā śaśikalā sagā rasagrahayatiḥ sraksrā vasuśailayatistathā

With fourteen light syllables, the excellent 'Shashikala' is formed, together with sa-ga; with a caesura at the sixth, 'Sraksra'; a caesura falls also at the seventh.

Verse 26 (garuda.1.209.26)

स्यान्मणिगुणनिकरो मालिनी ननमा ययौ । वसुस्वरयतिः स्याच्च नजौ भज्राः प्रभद्रकम्

syānmaṇiguṇanikaro mālinī nanamā yayau vasusvarayatiḥ syācca najau bhajrāḥ prabhadrakam

It becomes 'Manigunanikara' or 'Malini,' with na-na-ma-ya-yau; a caesura falls at the eighth; with na-ja-bha-jra, 'Prabhadraka' is formed.

Verse 27 (garuda.1.209.27)

एला सयौ ननौ यःस्याच्चित्रलेखास्वराष्टकैः । मरौ मयौ यश्च भवेदुक्तेयमति शर्करी

elā sayau nanau yaḥsyāccitralekhāsvarāṣṭakaiḥ marau mayau yaśca bhavedukteyamati śarkarī

In Ela, with sa-ya-na-na-ya — this is 'Chitralekha,' with a caesura at the eighth syllable; with ma-rau-ma-yau-ya too, this same is called Atisharkari.

Verse 28 (garuda.1.209.28)

स्वरात्खं वृषभगजजृम्भितं भ्रनना नगौ । नजभजरा वाणिनी गः पिङ्गलेनाष्टिरीरिता

svarātkhaṁ vṛṣabhagajajṛmbhitaṁ bhrananā nagau najabhajarā vāṇinī gaḥ piṅgalenāṣṭirīritā

At the seventh and eighth (Vrishabhagajajrimbhita), with bhra-na-na-na-gau; with na-ja-bha-ja-ra-ga, 'Vanini' — this Pingala has declared the Ashti meter.

Verse 29 (garuda.1.209.29)

रसरुद्रैः शिखरिणी यमौ नसभला गुरुः । वसुग्रयतिः पृथ्वी जसौ जसयला गुरुः

rasarudraiḥ śikhariṇī yamau nasabhalā guruḥ vasugrayatiḥ pṛthvī jasau jasayalā guruḥ

With a caesura at the sixth and eleventh, 'Shikharini' is formed, with ya-mau-na-sa-bha-la-guru; with a caesura at the eighth and third, 'Prithvi' is formed, with ja-sa-ja-sa-ya-la-guru.

Verse 30 (garuda.1.209.30)

दशस्वरैर्वंशपत्रपतितं भ्रौन्नभा लगौ । षड्वेदाश्वैश्च हरिणी नसमा रसला गुरुः

daśasvarairvaṁśapatrapatitaṁ bhraunnabhā lagau ṣaḍvedāśvaiśca hariṇī nasamā rasalā guruḥ

With a caesura at the tenth, 'Vamshapatrapatita' is formed, with bhrau-nna-bha-la-gau; with a caesura at the fourteenth, 'Harini' is formed, with na-sa-ma-ra-sa-la-guru.

Verse 31 (garuda.1.209.31)

मन्दाक्रान्तब्धिषड्नगैर्मभनास्ततगा गुरुः । नर्दटकं नजभजा जलौ गो यतिरेव च

mandākrāntabdhiṣaḍnagairmabhanāstatagā guruḥ nardaṭakaṁ najabhajā jalau go yatireva ca

With a caesura at the fourth and sixth, 'Mandakranta' is formed, with ma-bha-na-ta-ta-ga-guru; with na-ja-bha-ja-ja-la-ga, 'Nardataka' is formed, with a caesura.

Verse 32 (garuda.1.209.32)

सप्तर्त्वब्धिः कोकिलकमत्यष्टिः स्याच्च पूर्ववत् । भूतर्त्वश्वैः कुसुमितलता म्तौ न्यौ ययौ धृतिः

saptartvabdhiḥ kokilakamatyaṣṭiḥ syācca pūrvavat bhūtartvaśvaiḥ kusumitalatā mtau nyau yayau dhṛtiḥ

With a caesura at the seventh and fourth, 'Kokilaka' is formed — this too is the Atyashti meter as before; with the seventh and seventh, 'Kusumitalata' is formed, with mtau-nyau-ya-yau, in the Dhriti meter.

Verse 33 (garuda.1.209.33)

रसर्त्वश्वैर्यमौ न्सौ रौ मेघविस्फूर्जिता रगौ । शार्दूलविक्रीडितं मः सूर्यश्वैः सज्सतास्तगौ

rasartvaśvairyamau nsau rau meghavisphūrjitā ragau śārdūlavikrīḍitaṁ maḥ sūryaśvaiḥ sajsatāstagau

With a caesura at the sixth and seventh, with ya-mau-n-sau-ra, 'Meghavisphurjita' is formed, together with ra-ga; with the seventh and seventh, 'Shardulavikridita' is formed, with sa-ja-sa-ta-sa-ta-ga.

Verse 34 (garuda.1.209.34)

छन्दो ह्यतिधृतिः प्रोक्तमत ऊर्ध्वं कृतिर्भवेत् । सप्ताश्वर्तुः सुवदना भ्रौ मनौ यभला गुरुः

chando hyatidhṛtiḥ proktamata ūrdhvaṁ kṛtirbhavet saptāśvartuḥ suvadanā bhrau manau yabhalā guruḥ

This is declared the Atidhriti meter; beyond this comes the Kriti meter. With a caesura at the seventh and sixth, 'Suvadana' is formed, with bhrau-manau-ya-bha-la-guru.

Verse 35 (garuda.1.209.35)

वृत्तं रजौ रजौ पादे रजौ गो लः कृतिर्भवेत् । त्रिसप्तकैः स्नग्धरा स्यात्प्रकृतिर्म्नभनैस्त्रियैः

vṛttaṁ rajau rajau pāde rajau go laḥ kṛtirbhavet trisaptakaiḥ snagdharā syātprakṛtirmnabhanaistriyaiḥ

With ra-jau-ra-jau in the pada, with ra-jau-ga-la, 'Vritta' is formed — this too is the Kriti meter; with a caesura at the twenty-first, 'Sragdhara' is formed, with mna-bha-na, in the form of 'Prakriti' across three ganas.

Verse 36 (garuda.1.209.36)

दिगर्कैर्भद्रकं भ्रौ न्रौ नरना गो यथाकृतिः । नजौ भश्वाश्वललितं जभौ जभलगा भवेत्

digarkairbhadrakaṁ bhrau nrau naranā go yathākṛtiḥ najau bhaśvāśvalalitaṁ jabhau jabhalagā bhavet

With a caesura at the tenth and twelfth, 'Bhadraka' is formed, with bhrau-nrau-na-ra-na-ga, according to the pattern; 'Ashvashvalalita' is formed with na-jau-bha, and with ja-bhau-ja-bha-la-ga.

Verse 37 (garuda.1.209.37)

मत्ताक्रीडञ्चाष्टबाणदशकैर्मौ तनौ ननौ । नलौ गुरुश्च विकृतिश्छिन्ना संकृतिरुच्यते

mattākrīḍañcāṣṭabāṇadaśakairmau tanau nanau nalau guruśca vikṛtiśchinnā saṁkṛtirucyate

In Mattakrida, with a caesura at the eighth, fifth, and tenth, with mau-ta-nau-na-nau; with na-lau-guru, 'Vikriti' is formed, and 'Chhinna' is called 'Samkriti'.

Verse 38 (garuda.1.209.38)

पञ्चाश्वार्कैर्भतौ तन्वी नसभा भनया गणाः । क्रौञ्चपदा बाणशरवसुशैलैर्भमौ सभौ

pañcāśvārkairbhatau tanvī nasabhā bhanayā gaṇāḥ krauñcapadā bāṇaśaravasuśailairbhamau sabhau

With a caesura at the fifth, seventh, and twelfth, with bha-tau, 'Tanvi' is formed, with na-sa-bha-bha-na-ya ganas; with a caesura at the fifth, fifth, eighth, and seventh, with bha-mau-sa-bhau, 'Kraunchapada' is formed.

Verse 39 (garuda.1.209.39)

नौ नौ गोऽतिकृतिः प्रोक्ता च्छन्दो ह्युत्कृतिरुच्यते । वस्वीशाश्वैर्ममतनैः स्याद्भुजङ्गविजृम्भितम्

nau nau go'tikṛtiḥ proktā cchando hyutkṛtirucyate vasvīśāśvairmamatanaiḥ syādbhujaṅgavijṛmbhitam

With nau-nau-go, this is declared Atikriti, and this meter is called Utkriti; with a caesura at the eighth, eleventh, and seventh, with ma-ma-ta-na ganas, 'Bhujangavijrimbhita' is formed.

Verse 40 (garuda.1.209.40)

ननरसैर्लगयुक्तैश्च अपवाहाख्यकं यतिः । गुहैः षड्भी रसैर्बाणैर्मोनाः षट्सगगा गणाः

nanarasairlagayuktaiśca apavāhākhyakaṁ yatiḥ guhaiḥ ṣaḍbhī rasairbāṇairmonāḥ ṣaṭsagagā gaṇāḥ

With na-na-ra-sa ganas, together with la-ga, the meter named 'Apavaha' is formed, with a caesura; with a caesura at the ninth, sixth, sixth, and fifth, with ma-nau ganas, sha-sa-ga-ga is formed.

Verse 41 (garuda.1.209.41)

चण्डवृत्तिप्रपातोऽसौ दण्डको नौ ततोऽगरः । रफेवृद्धान्तकादस्य व्यालजीमूतकादयः

caṇḍavṛttiprapāto'sau daṇḍako nau tato'garaḥ raphevṛddhāntakādasya vyālajīmūtakādayaḥ

This is the Dandaka meter, which falls in a mighty rush, beginning with na-au-ta and extending without end; thereafter, growing forth with the letter ra, the further meters Vyala, Jimutaka, and the like are formed unto the end.