In all these stanzas, it is evident that the line is divided at the Yati into two unequal parts: of which the initials rhyme together. There is also the prasa rhyme, which connects all four lines. The prasa is "the consonant or consonants standing between the two first vowels in a line of verse." Accordingly in the first verse now cited, "&>tu, &c. L is the prasa: in the second, *>°«, &c. the letters NCH: in the third &c. It is the
prasa being alike in all the lines. The vowel is of importance in the Yati rhyme but not in the prasa.
It may be thought that N is a consonant, but this is Sunna which is regarded merely as an adjunct to a vowel.
It is evident that some of these Uniform metres may be scanned with feet of two syllables: but the native custom is to scan every fixed line with feet of three syllables disregarding the harmony: this strictness renders many metres intricate: which otherwise would present no difficulty.
In the uniform metres, each line must end with a long syllable. There is no liberty whatever should it be short by nature (as 6 psi at the end of the 2d line in the last verse exhibited) it is long by position: because the next line begins with a double consonant.
As exemplified in the same word, it is often convenient to divide a word, between two lines.
The above metres are placed first because particularly easy: but they are not in common use : the four most used are the following: and will be found to be in truth but two: from which, the other two deviate only in the first syllable.
The utpala-mala or "chain of violets" runs thus: yati falling on the tenth syllable.
B E N B B B LG
That is
— UU!-U-|UUU|*-UU|-UU|-U-|U
And the Champaca-mala or Tulip-wreath is the same, excepting
