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BRIEF NOTES
NIYAMA I
V.3: Mātrā Vịtta is defined and described in Niyamas I to IV and Varņa
Vịtta in Niyama V. The last or the VIth Niyama describes the six Pratyayas or Proofs.
V.13: 'Know all letters to be short, other than those which stand at the
end of a Päda, those that precede a conjunct consonant, (Saṁyoga), those that are long and those that are associated with an Anusvāra or a Visarga.' The commentator points out that a letter which precedes a conjunct is long only when the conjunct is stressed, but not otherwise. The stressing or otherwise of a conjunct is, however, to be known from the practice of the Präkrit writers. Compare Präkrta Paingala I. 14; Kavidarpana I. 6.
V. 14: Make a long letter (represented) by a curve with a straight line at
either end (somewhat resembling the letter S), having the measure (i.e., the height) of the joint of a thumb; make a short letter a straight one (i.e., represented by a straight line), having the same measure or height.'
V. 15: The Caturmātra is of five kinds : Sarvaguru SS; Antaguru IIS;
Madhyaguru ISI; Pramukhaguru SII and Sarvalaghu IIII.
V. 16 : This stanza enumerates the 8 kinds of a Pañcamātra : They are:
Prathamalaghu ISS; Dvitīyalaghu SIS; Caturthaguru IIIS, Tștiyalaghu SSI; Tștīyaguru IISI; Dvitīyaguru ISII; Prathamaguru SIII and Sarvalaghu IIIII.
V.17: 'By the names of an elephant, a chariot, a horse, a footsoldier and
a warrior know (that) a Caturmātra (is meant); and oh broad-hipped lady, (know) a Pañcamātra (to be meant) by (the names of) the
many different weapons.' Compare Präksta Paingala I. 30. Vv. 18-19: The special names of the five Caturmätras mentioned in v.15
are Karņa (SS); Kara (IIS); Payodhara (ISI); Carana (SII); and Vipra (IIII) respectively. Even the synonyms of these words are used to convey them.
Vv. 20-22: Another name of the Gurumadhya Caturmātra, given to it out
of great regard for it, is Narendra or 'King'. It is called a 'King' be
