Pages vii -viii
The Vedic metres at the same time do never lose its impress pattern on excess or loss of one
or two syllables. This overstepping or shortness of due limits does not stand in the way of their
fullfilment of the definition of the particular metre. The Aitereya Brāhmaṇa claims that by one
letter or by two letters the metres are not disqualified (na vā ekena akṣareṇа chandāṁsi viyanti
na dvābhyām), Where the number of the syllable is less, the euphonic combination should be
disjoined and Pingala has rightly framed a rule in this regard (Piṅgala—3-2).
pages 84-85
. . .In the second sūtra of this chapter [three] the author has prescribed the rules regarding filling of foot, in gāyatri etc. where syllables fall short of
the required number, there we fill the pada (foot) with iy, uv etc. As for example ‘tat savitur vareṇyam’ is cited by the vṛttikāra.
Here as there are seven syllables only by the side of other two feet of eight syllables each, one should fill the foot adding one more syllable, i.e., iy.
Then the form will be 'tat savitur vareṇiyam'. . .
page 92
If the characteristic features of the metres as shown by Piṅgala fail to hold good to all the Vedic
metres, all these may be explained with the help of nicṛt, bhūrik, virāṭ etc. . . .
page 61
...
The metre here is triṣṭup. The first foot of the mantra consists of ten syllables, second foot
of eleven syllables, third of nine syllables and fourth foot of ten syllables. . . . scholars took
resort to and devised 'iyādipūraṇa'. By this rule if we add one syllable in the first foot, two in
the second foot and again one in the third foot then it will be triṣṭup metre.
page 89
. . . There are two other kinds of metres named nicṛt and bhūrik. Generally gāyatrī consists of
twentyfour syllables. But when we find one syllable less, it is called nicṛt gāyatrī and when it
contains one
syllable in excess it is known by the name bhūrik gāyatrī. Other
metres are also to
be divided thus. Similarly when two syllables less or more are detected in a gāyatrī, they are virāṭ gāyatrī and svarāṭ gāyatrī respectively.
Other metres also follow the same principle. If there exists
any doubt in the determination of metre, the first foot is regarded as the deciding factor.
Harry Spier