A History of Sanskrit Literature c12.s2.20

c12.s2.20

The chief metre used by Bhaṭṭi is the Çloka, which is used in Cantos iv–ix and xiv–xxii. Upajāti of the Indravajrā type prevails in i–ii, xi and xii. The Gīti form of Āryā prevails in xiii, and x is largely in Puṣpitāgrā; no other metre has any currency of importance. Only Praharṣiṇī. Mālinī, Aupacchandasika, Vaṁçasthā, and Vaitālīya occur six times or more; Açvalalita, Nandana, Pṛthvī, Rucirā, and Narkuṭaka occur only once each; others used are Tanumadhyā, Toṭaka, Drutavilambita, Pramitākṣarā, Praharaṇakalikā, Mandākrāntā, Çārdūlavikrīḍita, and Sragdharā. The absence of the longer metres in frequent use explains, of course, the comparative ease of the style, for the larger stanzas encourage development both of thought and expression.