Agni Purāṇa
332 - The metres of un-equal characteristics in the four quarters
This chapter corresponds to Pingala ch. V. Sütras 1-31.
Agni said:
1. Ishall describe the equal, half equal and unequal (metres), 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 half equal metres are arrived at by multiplying the number of equal metres with the same number.
2. (The number of) unequal metres (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) Samani where it ends with a long andshort syllable. The Pramāņi (metre) ends with ashort and long syllable. The Vitinaka is different from the above (two).
3. It would be Vaktra metre (by adding four syllables) at the beginning of a quarter (of an Anushtup). (In it after) the first (syllable) thereshould not be sagana and nagana2 (and repha in the second and fourth quarters). (One may use) some other gañas except the above. The yaganashould come after the fourth (syllable of a quarter). In the Pathyāvaktra (metre), jagana (comes after the fourth syllable) in the second and fourth quarters.
2. See ch. 328. vv 1-3 for the ganas,
4. According to others, it is Pathya metre when it has the characteristics contrary to the above. It is Chapalā, if there is nagaņa after the fourth letter in the first and third quarters. It is Vipula, when yagana is everywhere in the second and fourth quarters and the seventh syllable isshort. According to Saitava (åchårya)1, the seventh syllableshould beshort in all the quarters.
1. The Purânic reading is corrupt.
5. If there is bhagana or nagaņa or tagana (instead of yagaña in the first and third quarters after the fourth syllable), it is Vipula. Many varieties of the Chakra class have been described. When four letters are added to each one of the quarters, the metre is Padachaturürdhvam.
6. The metre is Āpīda, 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 Pratyåpida2.
2. The text wrongly reads ganädika instead of gavådau.
7-8. In the Apida, when the first (pāda) is interchanged (with the second) it is Manjari, (when interchanged with the third) it is Lavalia3 and (when interchanged with the fourth) it is Amstadhara. Udgata is described now." Ithas (ten syllables) sa (gaña), ja(gana),sa (gana) and la(ghu) (in the first quarter) (ten (syllables)-na(gana), sa (gana), ja(gana) and ga (long syllable) (in the second quarter) (eleven syllables) bha (gana), na (gana), ja (gaña) and la (short syllable) (in the third quarter) (thirteen syllables)-sa (gaña), ja (gana), sa (gana), ja (gana) and ga (long syllable). When (in Udgatā), the third (quarter) has (ten syllables)-ra (gana), na (gana), bha (gana) and ga (long syllable) it is Saurabha. Lalita (consists of) two na (gaņas) and two sa (ganas) (in the third quarter) (in Udgata).
3. The text wrongly reads Lavani.
4. The text reads wrong.
9. Upasthitapracupita5 has ma, sa, ja and bha (gaņas) and two gas (in the first quarter), sa, na, ja and ra (gaņas) and ga (in the second quarter), two na, sa (ganas) (in the third) and three nas, ja and two ya (gaņas) (in the fourth).
5. The text is corrupt.
10. In Upasthitapracupita, when there are two nas, sa, two nas, na again and two sas in the third quarter, it is Vardhamana. Suddhavirädärshabha1 is said to have ta, ja, and ra (ganas) (in the third quarter) (in the Upasthitapracupita). Then Ishall describe the half-equal metres.
1. The text is corrupt.
Summary of chapter 334 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:
Expiatory rites (prāyaścittas) for sins committed knowingly or unknowingly are described. Agni classifies sins by their gravity — mahāpātakas (great sins: brāhmaṇa-killing, alcohol-drinking, theft of gold, violation of the guru's bed, and association with those who have committed these), upapātakas (lesser sins), and sāmānya-pāpas (common transgressions). For each class, the appropriate prāyaścitta — cāndrāyaṇa fast, kṛcchra fast, taptakṛcchra, pādakṛcchra, bathing in tīrthas, japa, and dāna — is prescribed. The chapter emphasizes that prāyaścitta is not merely punitive but is a means of genuine inner purification when accompanied by repentance (anautāpa) and resolution not to repeat the act.
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