Question

Which meter (Chhandah) is primarily used in the 'Meghaduta'?

• A. Upajati
• B. Indravajra
• C. Mandakranta
• D. Shardulavikriditam

Hint:

Mnemonic: "Mandakranta for Mandata" (Slow movement). Separation makes life move slowly, so Kalidasa used the "Slowly stepping" Mandakranta meter for his poem on separation.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
'Meghaduta' (The Cloud Messenger) is Mahakavi Kalidasa's most famous 'Sandesha-kavya' (messenger poem). A unique feature of this work is that, unlike many Mahakavyas that change meters every canto, the entire Meghaduta is composed in a single, specific meter. This choice is not accidental; Sanskrit poetics emphasizes 'Chhanda-aucitya' (propriety of meter), where the rhythm of the verse must match the emotional state of the characters.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
The entire 'Meghaduta' is composed in the Mandakranta meter.

Mandakranta is a 17-syllable meter. Its Gana sequence is: Maganah, Bhaganah, Naganah, Taganah, Taganah, and two Gurus (ga-ga).
Definition: "Mandākrāntā jaladhisaḍagairmbhau natau tād-gurū cet"
- The name 'Mandakranta' literally means "moving slowly".
- It has pauses ('Yati') at the 4th, 10th, and 17th syllables.

Why Kalidasa chose this meter:
The theme of Meghaduta is 'Vipralambha Shringara' (love in separation). The protagonist, a Yaksha, has been exiled and is suffering from intense longing for his wife. According to the rules of 'Chhandas-shastra', the slow, heavy, and melancholic rhythm of Mandakranta is considered the most suitable for expressing 'Viraha' (separation) and deep sorrow. The long vowel sounds and the specific placement of the gurus create a dragging effect that mimics the slow, painful passage of time for a lonely lover.

Analyzing other options:
1. Upajati and Indravajra: These are fast-paced, 11-syllable meters used for narratives or energetic descriptions.
2. Shardulavikriditam: This is a 19-syllable meter with a grand, powerful rhythm, often used for heroic or awe-inspiring descriptions, not for the delicate sorrow of Meghaduta.

Kalidasa's mastery over Mandakranta in this poem is so absolute that all subsequent 'messenger poems' (like Pavanaduta or Hamsaduta) almost always adopted this same meter to evoke the same emotional quality. It is said that "In the Mandakranta meter, Kalidasa shines the brightest."

Step 4: Final Answer:
The Mandakranta meter is used throughout Meghaduta. Thus, Option (C) is the correct answer.