APPENDIX II. METRE.
Rhyme is not used in the Rgveda. The metres are regulated by
the number of syllables in the stanza, which consists generally of three or
four Padas, measures, divisions, or quarter verses, with a distinctly marked
interval at the end of the second Pada, and so forming two hemistichs or
semi-stanzas of equal or unequal length. These Padas most usually contain eight
or eleven or twelve syllables each; but occasionally they consist of fewer and
sometimes of more than these numbers. The Padas of a stanza are generally of
equal length and of more or less corresponding prosodial quantities: but
sornetimes two ox more kinds of metre are employed in one stanza, and then the
Padas vary in quantity and length. As regards quantity, the first Syllables of
the Pada are not subject to very strict laws, but the last four are more
regular, their measure being generally iambic in Padas of eight and of twelve
syllables and trochaic in those of eleven. In the printed text the first and
second Padas form one line, and the third, or third and fourth, or third,
fourth, and fifth, complete the distich or stanza. This arrangement I have
followed in my translation.
Subjoined, in alphabetical arrangement, are the names, with
brief descriptions, of the metres used in the Hymns of the Rgveda. The Index of
Hymns will show the metre or metres employed in each Hymn.
Abhtisarini: a species of Trstup, in which two Padas contain
twelve instead of eleven syllables.
Amstup or Anustubh: consisting of four Padas of eight
syllables each, two Padas forming a line. This is the prevailing form of metre
in the Manava-dharma-sastra, the Mahabharata, the Ramayana, and the Puranas.
Anustubgarbha: a metre of the Usnih class: the first Pada
containing five syllables, and the three following Padas of eight syllables
each.
Anustup Pipilikamadhya: a species of Anustup, having the
second Pada shorter than the first and third (8 syllables+ 4+8+ 8).
Asti: consisting of four Padas of Sixteen syllables each, or
sixty-four syllables in the stanza.
Astrapaikti: consisting of two Padas of eight syllables
each, followed by two Padas of twelve syllables each.
Atidhrti: four Padas of nineteen syllables each, = 76
syllables.
Atijagati: four Padas of thirteen syllables each.
Atincrti: consisting of three Padas containing respectively
seven, six, and seven syllables.
Atisakvari: four Padas of fifteen syllables each.
Atyasti: four Padas of seventeen syllables each.
Brhati: four Padas ( 8 + 8 + 12 + 8) containing 36 syllables
in the stanza.
Caturvimsatika Dvipada: a Dvipada containing 24 syllables
instead of 20.
Dhrti: consisting of seventy-two syllables in a stanza.
Dvipada Viraj: a species of Gayatri consisting of two Padas
only (12+8 or 10+10 syllables); inadequately represented in the translation by
two decasyllabic iambic lines.
Ekapada Tristup: a Trstup consisting of a single Pada or
quarter stanza.
Ekapada Viraj: a Viraj consisting of a single Pada.
Gayatri: the stanza usually consists of twenty-four
syllables, variously arranged, but generally as a triplet of three Padas of
eight syllables each, or in one line of sixteen syllables and a second line of
eight. There are eleven varieties of this metre, and the number of syllables in
the stanza varies accordingly from nineteen to thirty-three.
Jagati: a metre consisting of forty-eight syllables arranged
in four Padas of twelve syllables each, two Padas forming a line or hemistich which
in the translation is represented by a double Alexandrine.
Kakup or Kakubh: a metre of three Padas consisting of eight,
twelve, and eight syllables respectively.
Kakubh Nyakusira; consisting of three Padas of 9+12+4
syllables.
Krti: a metre of four Padas. of twenty syllables each.
Madhyejyotis: a metre in which a Pada of eight syllables
stands between two Padas of twelve.
Mahibrhati: four Padas of eight syllables each, followed by
one of twelve.
Mahapadapankti: a two-lined metre of thirtyone syllables,
the first line consisting of four Padas of five syllables each, and the second
being a Tristup of the usual eleven syllables. See Vedic Hymns, part 1. (S.
Books of the East, XXXII), p. xcviii.
Mahapankti: a metre of forty-eight syllables 8 x 6 or 12 x
4.
Mahasatobrhati: a lengthened form of Satobrhati.
Nastarupi: a variety of Anustup.
Nyankusarini: a metre of four Padas of 8 + 12 + 8 + 8
syllables.
Padanicrt: a variety of Gayatri in which one syllable is
wanting in each Pada: 7+3=21 syllables.
Padapankti: a metre consisting of five Padas of five
syllables each.
Pankti: a metre of five octosyllabic Padas, like Anustup
with an additional Pada.
Panktyuttara: a metre which ends with a Pankti of 5 + 5
syllables.
Pipilikamadhya: any metre the middle Pada of which is
shorter than the preceding and the following.
Pragatha: a metre in Book VIII, consisting of strophes
combining two verses, viz. a Brhati or Kakup followed by a Satobrhati.
Prastarapankti: a metre of forty syllables: 12+12+8+8
Pratistha: a metre of four Padas of four syllables each;
also a variety of the Gayatri consisting of three Padas of eight, seven, and
six syllables respectively.
Purastadbrhati: a variety of Brhati with twelve syllables in
the first Pada.
Pura-usnih: a metre of three Padas, containing 12+8+8
syllables.
Sakvari: a metre of four Padas of fourteen syllables each.
Satobrhati: a metre whose even Padas contain eight syllables
each, and the uneven twelve: 12+8+12+8=40.
Skandhogriva: consisting of Padas of 8 + 12 + 8 + 8
syllables.
Tanusira: consisting of three Padas of 11 + 11 + 6
syllables.
Tristup or Tristubh: a metre of four Padas of eleven
syllables each.
Uparistadbrhati: consisting of four Padas of 12 + 8 + 8 + 8
syllables.
Uparistajjyotis: a Tristup stanza the last Pada of which
contains only eight syllables.
Urdhvabrhati: a variety of Brhati.
Urobrhati: a variety of Brhati: 8+12 8 + 8 syllables.
Usniggarbha: Gayatri of three Padas of six, seven, and
eleven syllables respectively.
Usnih: consisting of three Padas of 8 + 8 + 12 syllables.
Vardhamana: a species of Gayatri; 6 + 7 + 8 21 syllables.
Viparita: a metre of four Padas resembling Vistarapankti.
Viradrupa: a Tristup metre of four Padas, 11 + 11 + 11 + 7
or 8 syllables.
Viraj: a metre of four Padas of ten syllables each.
Viratpurva: a variety of Tristup.
Viratsthana: a variety of Tristup.
Visamapada: metre of uneven stanzas.
Vistarabrhati: a form of Brhati of four Padas containing 8 +
10 + 10 + 8= 36 syllables.
Vistarapankti: a form of Pankti consisting of four padas of
8+12+12+8-40 syllables.
Yavamadhya: a metre having a longer Pada between two shorter
ones.
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