नाभ्यादिषु नवाङ्गेषु पापैर्दुष्टं शुभैः शुभम्
In the nine limbs beginning with the navel, evil brings corruption, and good brings auspiciousness.
मुहू रुदन्ति गायन्ति प्रस्विद्यन्ति हसंति च
At times, people cry, sing, sweat, and laugh.
अधोमुखाधितिष्टन्ति स्थानात्स्थानं व्रजन्ति च
They stand facing downward and move from place to place.
गन्धर्वनगरं चैव दिवा नक्षत्रदर्शनम्
The sight of a Gandharva city and seeing stars during the day,
गान्धर्वं देहदिग्धूमं भूमिकंपं दिवा निशि
the Gandharva smoke covering the body, trembling of the earth by day or night,
निशीन्द्रचापमण्डूकं शिखरे श्वेतवायसः
the rainbow or a frog at night, a white crow on a peak,
जन्तवो द्वित्रिशिरसो जायन्ते वापि योनिषु
creatures with two or three heads are born, or even in wombs,
जम्बूकग्रामसंवासः केतूनां च प्रदर्शनम्
the dwelling of jackals in villages and the appearance of comets.
अकाले पुष्पिता वृक्षा दृश्यन्ते फलिता यदि
If trees are seen flowering and bearing fruit out of season,
एवमाद्या महोत्पाता बहवः स्थाननाशदा
in this way, many great portents arise that bring about the destruction of places.
मध्याद्भयं यशो मृत्युः क्षयः कीर्तिः सुखासुखम्
From the middle comes fear, death of fame, loss, renown, happiness and sorrow.
इत्यादिषु च सर्वेषूत्पातेषु द्विजसत्तम
And so, O best of twice-born, in all such portents,
इत्येतत्कथितं विप्र ज्यौतिषं ते समासतः
Thus, O learned one, I have briefly explained to you the science of omens.
अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि च्छन्दः शास्त्रमनुत्तमम्
Now, I shall expound the supreme science of meter.
मात्रावर्णविभेदेन तच्चापि द्विविधं पुनः
By the difference of syllables and letters, it is again of two kinds.
कारणं छन्दसि प्रोक्ताश्छन्दःशास्त्रविशारदैः
The cause in meter is declared by those skilled in the science of meter.
मध्यलो रगणश्वैव प्रान्त्यगः सगणो मतः
A group with a short in the middle is called a 'ragaṇa'; one ending with a group is considered 'sagaṇa'.
त्रिलघुर्नगणः प्रोक्तस्त्रिका वर्णगणा मुने
A group of three shorts is called 'nagaṇa'; three single letters, O sage, are letter-groups.
संयोगश्च विसर्गश्चानुस्वारो लघुतः परः
A conjunction, visarga, and anusvāra are considered short if they follow.
पादश्चतुर्थभागः स्याद्विच्छेदोयतिरुच्यते
A quarter-verse is a fourth part; its division is called a pause.
तुल्यलक्षणतः पादचतुष्के सममुच्यते
When the four quarters have equal characteristics, it is called 'equal'.
लक्ष्म भिन्नं यस्य पादचतुष्के विषमं हि तत्
If the four quarters have differing marks, it is indeed called 'unequal'.
षड्विंशत्यक्षरं यावत्पादस्तावत्पृथक् पृथक्
A quarter-verse is up to twenty-six syllables, each counted separately.
त्रिभिः षड्भिः पदैर्गाथाः शृणु संज्ञा यथोत्तरम्
Verses are named according to whether they have three or six quarters; listen to their names in order.
गायत्र्युष्णिगनुष्टष्टप्च बृहती पङ्क्तिरेव च
Gāyatrī, Uṣṇik, Anuṣṭubh, Bṛhatī, and Paṅkti as well,
शक्करी सातिपूर्वा च अष्ट्यत्यष्टी ततः स्मृते
Śakkarī, Sāti, Pūrvā, Aṣṭi, and Aṣṭī are then remembered.
विकृतिः संकृतिश्चैव तथातिकृतिरुत्कृतिः
Variation, combination, excess, and elevation.
पादे सर्वगुरौ पूर्वील्लघुं स्थाप्य गुरोरधः
In the line, place the light syllable before all heavy ones, and the light below the heavy.
एष प्रस्तार उदितो यावत्सर्वलघुर्भवेत्
This arrangement is described until only light syllables remain.
उद्दिष्टे द्विगुणानाद्यादङ्गान्संमोल्य लस्थितान्
From the stated double-counted elements, multiply those that are fixed in place.