Chapter 332 - The metres of un-equal characteristics in the four quarters (viṣama)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

[Note: This chapter corresponds to Piṅgala 5.1-31]

Fire-god said:

1. I shall describe the equal. half equal and unequal (metres) [i.e., viṣama], the three (divisions) of the classical metres. (The equal metres have the same characteristics in all the four quarters, the half-equal in two quarters and the unequal have different characteristics in all the four). The number of halfequal metres are arrived at by multiplying the number of equal metres with the same number.

2. (The number of) unequal metres [i.e., viṣama] (is got by multiplying the number of half-equal metres with the same number). (The number of pure half-equal metres is got by) deducting (the number of the equal metres) from the number (of half equal metres). (The metre is known as) Samānī where it ends with a long and short syllable. The Pramāṇī (metre) ends with a short and long syllable. The Vitānaka is different from the above (two).

3. It would be Vaktra metre (by adding four syllables) at the beginning of a quarter (of an Anuṣṭup). (In it after) the first (syllable) there should not be sagaṇa and nagaṇa^[1] (and repha in the second and fourth quarters). (One may use) some other gaṇas except the above. The yagaṇa should come after the fourth (syllable of a quarter). In the Pathyāvaktra (metre), jagaṇa (comes after the fourth syllable) in the second and fourth quarters.

4. According to others, it is Pathyā metre when it has the characteristics contrary to the above. It is Capalā, if there is nagaṇa after the fourth letter in the first and third quarters. It is Vipulā, when yagaṇa is everywhere in the second and fourth quarters and the seventh syllable is short. According to Saitava (ācārya)^[2], the seventh syllable should be short in all the quarters.

5. If there is bhagaṇa or nagaṇa or tagaṇza (instead of yagaṇa in the first and third quarters after the fourth syllable), it is Vipulā. Many varieties of the Cakra class have been described. When four letters are added to each one of the quarters, the metre is Padacaturūrdhvam [Padacaturūrdhva].

6. The metre is Āpīḍa, if there are two long syllables at the end (of each one of the quarters). If two long syllables occur at the beginning (of each one of the quarters), it is Pratyāpīḍa.^[3]

7-8. In the Āpīḍa, when the first (pāda) is interchanged (with the second) it is Mañjarī, (when interchanged with the third) it is Lavalī^[4] and (when interchanged with the fourth) it is Amṛtadhārā. Udgatā is described now.^[5] It has (ten syllables)—sa (gaṇa), ja (gaṇa), sa (gaṇa) and la (ghu) (in the first quarter) (ten ( syllables)—na (gaṇa), sa (gaṇa), ja (gaṇa) and ga (long syllable) (in the second quarter) (eleven syllables)—bha (gaṇa), na (gaṇa), ja (gaṇa) and la (short syllable) (in the third quarter) (thirteen syllables)—sa (gaṇa), ja (gaṇa), sa (gaṇa), ja (gaṇa) and ga (long syllable). When (in Udgatā), the third (quarter) has (ten syllables)—ra (gaṇa), na (gaṇa), bha (gaṇa) and ga (long syllable) it is Saurabha. Lalita (consists of) two na (gaṇas) and two sa (gaṇas) (in the third quarter) (in Udgatā).

9. Upasthitapracupita^[6] has ma, sa, ja and bha(gaṇas) and two gas (in the first quarter), sa, na, ja and ra (gaṇas) and ga (in the second quarter), two na, sa (gaṇas) (in the third) and three nas, ja and two ya (gaṇas) (in the fourth).

10. In Upasthitapracupita, when there are two nas, sa, two nas, na again and two sas in the third quarter, it is Vardhamāna. Śuddhavirāḍāṛṣabha^[7] is said to have ta, ja, and ra (gaṇas) (in the third quarter) {in the Upasthitapracupita). Then I shall describe the half-equal metres.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

See ch. 328. vv 1-3 for the gaṇas.

[2]:

The Purāṇic reading is corrupt.

[3]:

The text wrongly reads gaṇādika instead of gavādau.

[4]:

The text wrongly reads Lavaṇī.

[5]:

The text reads wrong.

[6]:

The text is corrupt.

[7]:

The text is corrupt.