Rangjung Yeshe Institute

Sanskrit Metres

(With Romanized Text)


PREPARED JOINTLY BY

Kashinath Nyaupane and Wieslaw Mical


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 Copyright2009 Rangjung Yeshe Institute
and Professor Kashinath Nyaupane

All Rights Reserved.

Prepared jointly by Kashinath Nyaupane and Wieslaw Mical.

This Teaching Aid for learning the Sanskrit language includes a

CD with sound recordings of Sanskrit metres and this Booklet
which contains texts of the chanted samples. The samples are
chanted by Kashinath Nyaupane.

A separate booklet is available displaying the Sanskrit Devengari

script.

Recordings of the Sanskrit samples were made by Kevin

McMillin at the Rangjung Yeshe Institute.

English proong and corrections by by Tyler Cann.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Lexicon of Sanskrit prosody 4
Denitions of gaas 6
Illustrations of the main 33 Sanskrit metres 7
A. Samavtta metres: 8
(the number of syllables in a pda is given in brackets)
1. aivadan (6) 8
2. vidyullekh (6) 9
3. anuubh (8) 10
4. pramik (8) 11
5. indravajr (11) 12
6. upendravajr (11) 13
7. upajti (11) 14
8. lin (11) 15
9. rathoddhat (11) 16
10. svgat (11) 17
11. indir (11) 18
12. vaastha (12) 19
13. bhujagaprayta (12) 20
14. toaka (12) 21
15. sragvi (12) 22
16. drutavilambita (12) 23
17. prahari (12) 24
18. vasantatilak (14) 25
19. mlin (15) 26
20. pacacmara (16) 27
21. ikhari (17) 28
22. pthv (17) 29
23. mandkrnt (17) 30
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 24. hari (17) 31
25. kokilaka (17) 32
26. rdlavikrita (19) 33
27. sragdhar (21) 34
B. Ardhasamavtta metres 35
28. viyogin (11) 35
29. iull (11/12) 36
30. pupitgr (12/13) 37
C. Jti metres 38
31. ry (12/18, 12/15) 38
32. gti (12/10) 39
33. jti (16/14) 40

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33. jti
ayi girinandini nanditamedini
vivavinodini nandinute
girivaravindhyairo dhinivsini
viuvilsini jiunute.
bhagavati he itikahakuumbini
bhrikuumbini bhtikte
jaya jaya he mahisuramardini
ramyakapardini ailasute..
30 mtrtmik jti.
Jti has 30 mtrs (in a pda).
The yati is 16 mtrs by 14.
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Lexicon of Sanskrit Prosody
akara a syllable
ardhasamavtta a sub-category of vtta, where the alternate
pdas have the same prosodic structure.
gadya prose
gaa a prosodic unit of three syllables (akara); there are
eight gaas, as there are eight possible permutations of short
and long syllables in a group of three.
guru a heavy (long) syllable
jti a sub-category of padya, where a pda is dened by the
number of syllabic measures (mtr).
laghu a light (short) syllable
mtr a measure used in specifying the length of a pda in
metres of jti type; a short (laghu) syllable measures 1 mtr,
and a long (guru) syllable, 2 mtrs.
pda a quarter-verse. It may be subdivided into gaas, i.e.
prosodic units of three syllables.
padya a stanza (which is subdivided into four pdas); any
composition in verse.
samavtta a sub-category of vtta, where all pdas have the
same prosodic structure.
viamavtta a sub-category of vtta, where all pdas have a
dierent prosodic structure.
vtta a sub-category of padya, where the prosodic structure
of a pda is dened by the number and position (short versus
long) of syllables.
yati the way in which the caesura divides a pda. E.g., if the
caesura divides an 11 syllable pda into groups of seven and
four syllables, we denote that yati as 7 by 4.
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 Denitions of gaas

( stands for a short syllable, and , for a long one):

ya
ra
ta
bha
ja 32. gti
sa
jaya ivaakara ambho
ma jaya girijdha.
na jaya jaya smba sadiva
paupati jagada..
The above code-names may be combined, and those combinations
abbreviated, e.g. a combination of na and ya could be expressed by o hara hara hara mahdeva..
nayau, or nyau.
22 mtrtmik gti.
Short and long syllables are denoted by:
la (short) Gti has 22 mtrs (in a pda).
ga (long)
The yati is 12 mtrs by 10.

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C. Jti Metres

Illustrations of the Main 33 Sanskrit Metres

In the presentation that follows the metres are divided

into three groups, and arranged, within each group, in
the order of the number of syllables. The text of each
sample is followed by a stra (an aphorism) in Sanskrit
and English (the translation into English is not literal)
describing the metre. The samples may be chanted
31. ry
mgamnasajjann by the reader while listening to the accompanying
tajalasantoavihitavttnm. Compact Disk.
lubdhakadhvarapiun
nikraa vairio jagati..

yasy pde prathame dvdaamtrs tath ttye pi.

adaa dvitye caturthake pacadaa sry..

The metre whose 1st and 3rd pdas consist of 12 mtrs,

the 2nd of 18 mtrs, and the 4th of 15 mtrs is ry.

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A. Samavtta Metres

1. aivadan (6 syllables to a pda) 30. pupitgr (12 and 13 syllables)

aivadann tribhuvanabhuvanbhirmakoa
vrajatarunm. sakalakalakahara para prakam.
adharasudhormi aaraaaraa arayam a
madhuripur aicchat.. haram ajam varam acyuta prapadye..
(from the Yogavsiham)
aivadan nyau.
ayuji nayugarephito yakro
aivadan (i.e. its pda) is composed of na ( ) yuji tu najau jarag ca pupitgr.
and ya ( ).
If the 1st and the 3rd pdas consist of na ( ), na ( ),
ra ( ) and ya ( ), and the 2nd and the 4th
of na ( ), ja ( ), ja ( ), ra ( )
and ga (), the metre is pupitgr.
The yati in the 1st and 3rd pdas is 7 by 5, and in
the 2nd and 4th, 8 by 5.

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29. iull (11 and 12 syllables) 2. vidyullekh (6 syllables)

sugatn sasutn sadharmakyn rdh jt ka

praipatydarato khil ca vandyn. ko jto rdh.
sugattmajasavarvatra vndraye rse
kathayiymi yathgata samst.. sphte cndre hse..
(Bodhicaryvatra 1.1)
vidyullekh mo ma.
prathame sasaj gayugmayukt
iull carame sabhau rayau cet. Vidyullekh is composed of ma ( ) and ma ( ).

If the rst and third pdas consist of sa ( ), sa ( ), The yati is 3 by 3.

ja ( ), ga () and ga (), and the second and
the fourth of sa ( ), bha ( ), ra ( ),
and ya ( ), the metre is iull.
The yati in the 1st and 3rd pdas is 6 by 5, and in the 2nd
and 4th, 7 by 5.

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 B. Ardhasamavtta Metres

3. anuubh (8 syllables)

vgarthviva sampktau
vgarthapratipattaye.
jagata pitarau vande
prvatparamevarau..

(Raghuvaamahkvyam 1.1)

gantukmasya gantuca 28. viyogin (11 syllables)

yath bheda pratyate.
tath bhedo nayor jeyo kaasampad iya sudurlabh
ythsakhyena paitai.. pratilabdh pururthasdhan.
yadi ntra vicintyate hita
(Bodhicaryvatra 1.13) punar apy ea samgama kuta..

(Bodhicaryvatra 1.4)
Unlike in other metres, the pda in anuubh is not subdivided
into gaas. Each pda follows instead the following pattern viame yadi sau jagau same
of short and long syllables ( denotes that the syllable sabhar lgau ca tad viyogin.
may be short or long):
If the rst and third pdas consist of sa ( ), sa ( ),
ja ( ) and ga (), and the second and fourth
consist of sa ( ), bha ( ), ra ( ),
la () and ga (), the metre is viyogin.

The yati in the 1st and 3rd pdas is 6 by 4, and in the 2nd
and 4th pdas, 7 by 4.
loke aha guru jeya, sarvatra laghu pacamam.
dvicatupdayo hrasva, saptama drgham anyayo..

In anuubh, the sixth syllable should be known as long; the

fth one always as short.
In the second and fourth pdas, the seventh syllable is
short; in the other two pdas, long.

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27. sragdhar (21 syllables) 4. pramik (8 syllables)

ye rmadyaodsutapadakamale nsti bhaktir puntu bhaktir acyut

narm sadcyutghripadmayo.
yem bhir akanypriyaguakathane nnurakt rutismtipramik
rasaj. bhavmburitrik..
ye rkalllalitarasakathkarane naiva karo
dhik tn dhik tn dhig etn kathayati satata pramik jarau lagau.
krtanastho mdaga..
Pramik is composed of ja ( ), ra ( ), la ()
(rmadbhgavatam) and ga ().
mrabhnair yn trayea trimuniyatiyut sragdhar
The yati is 4 by 4.
krtiteyam.

Sragdhar is said to be composed of ma ( ), ra ( ),

bha ( ), na ( ) and three ya ( ),
with the yati 7 by 7 by 7.

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5. indravajr (11 syllables) 26. rdlavikrita (19 syllables)

rtrau yath meghaghanndhakre eke satpuru parrthaghaak svrthn parityajya ye

vidyut kaa darayati prakam. smnys tu parrtham udyamabhta svrthvirodhena
buddhnubhvena tath kadcil ye.
lokasya puyeu mati kaa syt.. te m mnuarkas parahitn svrthya vighnanti ye
ye tu ghnanti nirarthaka parahita te ke na jnmahe..
(Bodhicaryvatra 1.5)
sryvair masajastata sagurava rdlavikritam.
syd indravajr yadi tau jagau ga.
rdlavikrita is composed of ma ( ), sa ( ),
If it consists of ta ( ), ta ( ), ja ( ), ga () ja ( ), sa ( ), ta ( ), ta ( )
and ga (), the metre is indravajr. and a long syllable, with the yati 12 by 7.

The yati is 5 by 6.

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25. kokilaka (17 syllables) 6. upendravajr (11 syllables)

jaya jaya jahy ajm ajitdoagbhtagu mahdhar ratnamays tathnye

tvam asi yadtman samavaruddhasamastabhaga. vanaprade ca vivekaramy.
agajagadokasm akhilaaktyavabodhaka te lat supupbharaojjval ca
kvacid ajaytman ca carato nucaren nigama.. drum ca ye satphalanamrakh..

yadi bhavato najau bhajajal guru kokilakam. (Bodhicaryvatra 2.3)

If it is composed of na ( ), ja ( ), bha ( ), upendravajr jatajs tato gau.

ja ( ), ja ( ), la () and a long syllable;
the metre is kokilaka. Upendravajr is composed of ja ( ), ta ( ),
ja ( ), ga () and ga ()1.
The yati is 7 by 10.
The yati is 5 by 6.

1 The two ga are expressed in the above aphorism (stra) by gau

(a cow), which is a mnemonic device.
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 7. upajti (11 syllables) 24. hari (17 syllables)

brahmlavla bhuvanaikapla bahularajase vivotpattau bhavya namo nama

yaovila iuplaklam. prabalatamase tatsahre harya namo nama.
sasramymatimohajla janasukhakte sattvodriktau mya namo nama
bla mukunda iras nammi.. pramahasi pade nistraiguye ivya namo nama..

anantarodritalakmabhjau nasamarasal ga avedair hayair hari mat.

pdau yadyv upajtayas t.
ittha kilnysv api miritsu Hari is composed of na ( ), sa ( ), ma ( ),
vadanti jtiv idam eva nma.. ra ( ), sa ( ), la () and ga (), with the
yati 6 by 4 by 7.
Upajti is a combination of upendravajra and indravajra.2

2 For indravajra and upendravajra see above.

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23. mandkrnt (17 syllables) 8. lin (11 syllables)

tvm likhya praayakupit dhturgai ilym pujbhta prema gopgann

tmna te caraapatita yvad icchmi kartum. mrtbhta bhgadheya yadnm.
asrais tvan muhur upacitair dir lipyate me ekbhta guptavitta rutnm
krras tasminn api na sahate sagama nau ktnta.. ymbhta brahma me sannidhattm..

(Klidsa: Meghadta) mt tau gau cet lin vedalokai.

mandkrntmbudhirasanagair mo bhanau tau gayugmam. If ma ( ) is followed by two ta ( ) and two ga (),

the metre is lin, with the yati 4 by 7.
Mandkrnt is composed of ma ( ), bha ( ),
na ( ), ta ( ), ta ( ), ga () and
ga (), with the yati 4 by 6 by 7.

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9. rathoddhat (11 syllables) 22. pthv (17 syllables)

nandanandanapadravindayo labheta sikatsu tailam api yatnata payan

syandamnamakarandabindava. pibec ca mgatiksu salila pipsrdita.
sindhava paramasaukhyasampadm bhujagam api kopita irasi pupavad dhrayet
nandayantu hdaya mamniam.. na tu pratiniviamrkhajanacittam radhayet..

rt parair naralagai rathoddhat. (Bharthari: Ntiatakam)

With na ( ), ra ( ), la () and ga () following jasau jasayal vasugrahayati ca pthv guru.

after ra ( ), the metre is rathoddhat.
Pthv is composed of ja ( ), sa ( ), ja ( ),
The yati is 7 by 4. sa ( ), ya ( ), la () and ga (),
with the yati 8 by 9.

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21. ikhari (17 syllables) 10. svgat (11 syllables)

anghrta pupa kisalayam alna kararuhair takumbharucihridukla

anviddha ratna madhu navam ansvditarasam. kekicandrakavirjitacla.
akhaa puyn phalam iva ca tadrpam navyayauvanalasadbrajanr-
anagha rajano jayati kujavihr..
na jne bhoktra kam iha samupasthsyati vidhi..
svgat ranabhagaurguru ca.
(akuntalbhijnam)
Svgat consists of ra ( ), na ( ), bha ( )
rasai rudrai chinn yamanasabhal ga ikhari. and two heavy ga ().

ikhari has the yati 6 by 11, and is composed of The yati is 7 by 4.

ya ( ), ma ( ), na ( ), sa ( ),
bha ( ), la () and ga ().

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11. indir (11 syllables) 20. pacacmara (16 syllables)

jayati te dhika janman vraja jaavin

rayata indir avad atra hi.
dayita dyat diku tvaks
tvayi dhtsavas tv vicinvate..
nararalair gurv indir mat.
bhaje vrajaikanandana samastappakhaana
svabhaktacittarajana sadaiva nandanandanam.
supicchagucchamlaka sundaveuhastakam
anagaragasgara nammi kangaram..

When a long syllable is preceded by na ( ), jarau jarau tato jagau ca pacacmara vadet.
ra ( ), ra ( ) and la (), the metre
is indir. One should recite pacacmara as consisting of
ja ( ), ra ( ), ja ( ), ra ( ),
The yati is 6 by 5. then ja ( ) and ga ().

The yati is 8 by 8.

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19. mlin (15 syllables) 12. vaastha (12 syllables)

manasi vacasi kye puyapyaprs rajojue janmani sattvavttaye

tribhuvanam upakrareibhi prayanta. sthitau prajn pralaye tama spe.
paraguaparamn parvatktya nityam ajya sargasthitinahetave
nijahdi vikasanta santi santa kiyanta.. traymayya trigutmane nama..

(from the Nitiatakam) jatau tu vaastham udrita jarau.

nanamayayayuteya mlin bhogilokai. Vaastha is described as composed of ja ( ),

ta ( ), ja ( ) and ra ( ).
Mlin is composed of na ( ), na ( ), ma ( ),
ya ( ) and ya ( ), with the yati 8 by 7. The yati is 5 by 7.

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13. bhujagaprayta (12 syllables) 18. vasantatilak (14 syllables)

gale ruamla tanau sarpajla ratnkaras tava gha ghi ca padm

mahklakla gaedhiplam. ki deyamasti bhavate jagadvarya.
jajabhagottaragair vilam bhravmanayanhtamnasya
iva akara ambhum nam e.. datta mano yadupate kpay gha..

bhujagaprayta caturbhir yakrai. jey vasantatilak tabhaj jagau ga.

Bhujagaprayta is composed of four ya ( ). Vasantatilak should be known as consisting of ta ( ),

bha ( ), ja ( ), ja ( ), ga ()
The yati is 6 by 6. and ga ().

The yati is 8 by 6.

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17. prahari (13 syllables) 14. toaka (12 syllables)

gopnm adharasudhrasasya pnair adhara madhura vadana madhura

uttugastanakalaopaghanai ca. nayana madhura hasita madhuram.
caryair api rativibhramair murre hdaya madhura gamana madhuram
sasre matir abhavat prahriha.. madhurdhipater akhila madhuram..

trybhir manajarag prahariyam. vada toakam abdhisakrayutam.

Prahari is composed of ma ( ), na ( ), You should recite toaka as consisting of four sa ( ).

ja ( ), ra ( ) and ga (), with the yati 3
by 10.

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15. sragvi (12 syllables) 16. drutavilambita (12 syllables)

acyuta keava rmanryaam aanam cara kcanabhjane

kadmodara vsudeva harim. tvam api kukkura m kuru vismayam.
rdhara mdhava gopikvallabham iha hi pmaranyakamandire
jnaknyaka rmacandra bhaje.. na hi satm asat ca vivecanam..

krtitai catrephik sragvi. drutavilambitam ha nabhau bharau.

Sragvi is described as composed of four ra ( ). Drutavilambita is composed of na ( ), bha ( ),

bha ( ) and ra ( ).
The yati is 6 by 6.
The yati is 7 by 5.

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