CHAPTER SIXTEEN

METRICAL PATTERNS

Tanu-madhyā

1. ¹Tanu-madhyā is a variety [of metres] of the Gāyatrī class. [In each of its feet] the first two and the last two syllables are heavy².

Example :

2. santyakta-vibhūṣā bhraṣṭâñjana-netrā । hastârpitagaṇḍā kiṃ tvaṃ tanu-madhyā ॥

O fair lady (lit. slim-waisted one), why¹ have you cast off your ornaments, why are your eyes without collyrium and why are you resting the cheek on the palm of your hand ?

Makaraka-śīrṣā

3. [Of the same class is] Makaraka-śīrṣā which has [in each of its feet] the first four syllables light and the last two heavy¹.

Example :

4. svayam upayāntaṃ bhajasi na kāntam । bhayakari kiṃ tvaṃ makaraka-śīrṣā ॥

You are not greeting the beloved one who has come to you of his own accord O terrible one, why¹ are you so dull-headed²

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1 (C.2, B.XV.2). ¹ This is preceded in B. and C. by a couplet which rightly belongs to the Chapter XV. (XIV. in B.) ² Scheme (-- ∪, ∪ --). The definition of this metre is also its example though an independent example also follows. Such is the case with many other metres defined in the NŚ.

2 (C.3, B.XV.3). ¹ Kiṃ tvaṃ—why (are) you...? Cp. Kiṃ akāraṇaṃ eva darśanaṃ rataye na dīyate, Kumār. IV. 7.

3 (C.4, B.XV.4). ¹ Scheme (∪ ∪ ∪, ∪ --). This is called Śaśivadanā by Pr. P. Vr. R. and Srv.

4 (C.5, B.XV.5). ¹ See above 2 note 1. ² Makarakasira—having a head (i.e. brain) like that of a makara.