A History of Sanskrit Literature c13.50

c13.50

Çrīharṣa uses only nineteen metres, a comparatively small number. Of these, the favourite is Upajāti of the Indravajrā type, which is predominant in seven cantos; the Vaṅçasthā type prevails in four cantos and is the chief metre in Canto xii, in which after the model of Bhāravi and Māgha the poet goes out of his way to vary his metres. The Çloka,² Vasantatilaka, and Svāgatā are each the main metre of two cantos, while one canto each is found of Drutavilambita, Rathoddhatā, Vaitālīya, and Hariṇī. There is only one stanza in each of Acaladhṛti, Toṭaka, Dodhaka, and Pṛthvī, and five in Mandākrāntā. More frequent yet limited use is made of Puṣpitāgrā, Mālinī, Çikhariṇī, and Sragdharā.