SCHEME OF THE SHLOKA, OR ANUSHTUBH METRE. The Institutes of Manu are written in the shloka, or anushṭubh metre. This is the commonest of all the infinite variety of Sanscrit metres, and is that which chiefly prevails in the great epic poems of the East. It consists of two lines of sixteen syllables each, but the rules which regulate one line apply equally to the other. The scheme is as follows: The 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th syllables may be either long or short. The 16th, as ending the line, is also common. But the line may be considered as divided into two parts at the Sth syllable, since it is an almost universal rule that this syllable must end a word, whether simple or compound. Hence it follows that the usual privilege of a final syllable is conceded to the Sth also. The 6th may be The 5th syllable ought always to be short. either long or short, but if long then the 7th ought to be long also, and if short then the 7th ought to be short also. casional variations from these last rules occur. But oc The last four syllables form two iambics, the 13th being always short, the 14th always long, and the 15th always short. Every shloka, or couplet of two lines, must form a complete sentence in itself, and contain both subject and predicate. Not unfrequently, however, in the Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata, three lines are united to form a triplet. CORRECTIONS. P. 77. line 5. for siege read seize. P. 78. note, for r. 88. a. read r. 88. b. P. 79. line 4. for ksheptwä read kshiptwā. P. 107. note 8. for अवाक्षि, अवावहि read अवक्षि, अवक्ष्वहि. In some few cases the long marks over the vowels and the dots which distinguish the cerebral letters have broken off in the printing of part of the impression. Thus, in p. 24. line 1, read jīvā. In p. 42. note †, read Vedagarbhanāmā. In p. 79. line 4 from the bottom, read dātā, line 3, jeta. Some few other cases may be found. |