Question

Match List I (Meters) with List II (Example Verses) based on their metrical structure:

List I (Meter)		List II (Example Verse)
A. Vasantatilaka	I.	\(\text{Govindaṃ praṇamattamāṅga ! rasane ! taṃ ghoṣayā'harniśam}\)
B. Drutavilambitam	II.	\(\text{Smitaṃ bibhraddevo jagadavatu govardhanadharaḥ}\)
C. Shikharini	III.	\(\text{Harimahaṃ hṛdayena sadā vahe}\)
D. Shardulavikriditam	IV.	\(\text{Līlāparaṃ pikakulaṃ kalamatra rauti}\)

• A. A-I, B-IV, C-III, D-II
• B. A-II, B-I, C-IV, D-III
• C. A-III, B-II, C-I, D-IV
• D. A-IV, B-III, C-II, D-I

Hint:

To identify meters quickly in exams, first count the total number of syllables in a line.
11 $\rightarrow$ Indravajra/Upendravajra/Upajati
12 $\rightarrow$ Vamshastha/Drutavilambitam
14 $\rightarrow$ Vasantatilaka
17 $\rightarrow$ Mandakranta/Shikharini
19 $\rightarrow$ Shardulavikriditam.
This primary filter narrows down the options significantly.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
In Sanskrit prosody (Chhandas-shastra), meters are identified by the number of syllables (Aksharas) in each quarter (Pada) and the specific arrangement of long (Guru) and short (Laghu) syllables into groups of three called Ganas. To solve this matching question, one must analyze the syllable count and rhythmic pattern of each verse fragment provided in List II and match it with the standard definitions of the meters in List I.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Let us analyze each verse and its corresponding meter:

1. Vasantatilaka (14 syllables): The definition is "Uktā vasantatilakā tabhajā jagau gaḥ". The Gana sequence is Ta, Bha, Ja, Ja, followed by two Gurus. Verse IV: "Lī-lā-pa-raṃ pi-ka-ku-laṃ ka-la-ma-tra rau-ti".
Counting syllables: Lī(1) lā(2) pa(3) raṃ(4) pi(5) ka(6) ku(7) laṃ(8) ka(9) la(10) ma(11) tra(12) rau(13) ti(14). Total = 14. This matches Vasantatilaka.

2. Drutavilambitam (12 syllables): The definition is "Drutavilambitamāha nabhabharau". The Gana sequence is Na, Bha, Bha, Ra. Verse III: "Ha-ri-ma-haṃ hṛ-da-ye-na sa-dā va-he".
Counting syllables: Ha(1) ri(2) ma(3) haṃ(4) hṛ(5) da(6) ye(7) na(8) sa(9) dā(10) va(11) he(12). Total = 12. This matches Drutavilambitam.

3. Shikharini (17 syllables): The definition is "Rasairudraishchinnā yamanasabhagalāgaḥ śikhariṇī". The Gana sequence is Ya, Ma, Na, Sa, Bha, followed by a Laghu and a Guru. Verse II: "Smi-taṃ bi-bhrad-de-vo ja-ga-da-va-tu go-va-rdha-na-dha-raḥ".
Counting syllables: Smi(1) taṃ(2) bi(1) bhrad(1) de(1) vo(1) ja(1) ga(1) da(1) va(1) tu(1) go(1) va(1) rdha(1) na(1) dha(1) raḥ(1). Total = 17. The rhythm also matches perfectly.

4. Shardulavikriditam (19 syllables): The definition is "Sūryāśvairyadi mah sajau satatagāḥ śārdūlavikrīḍitam". The Gana sequence is Ma, Sa, Ja, Sa, Ta, Ta, and a Guru. Verse I: "Go-vi-ndaṃ pra-ṇa-ma-tta-mā-ṅga ! ra-sa-ne ! taṃ gho-ṣa-yā'ha-rni-śam".
Counting syllables: Go(1) vi(2) ndaṃ(3) pra(4) ṇa(5) ma(6) tta(7) mā(8) ṅga(9) ra(10) sa(11) ne(12) taṃ(13) gho(14) ṣa(15) yā(16) ha(17) rni(18) śam(19). Total = 19. This matches Shardulavikriditam.

Therefore, the correct mapping is A-IV, B-III, C-II, D-I.

Step 4: Final Answer:
The syllable counts and patterns for the verses match perfectly with the specified meters. Hence, Option (D) is the correct choice.