Śikhariṇī
Pattern
Description
The śikhariṇī is an atyaṣṭiḥ meter (with 17 syllables per quarter). The syllabic mattern is:
। ऽ ऽ ऽ ऽ ऽ, । । । । । ऽ, ऽ । । । ऽ
There is an obligatory word-break (yatiḥ) after the sixth and eleventh syllables, although the second word-break seems to be less strictly observed than the first.
Definitions
Piṅgala, Chandaḥsūtram 7.19:
śikhariṇī yamau nsau blau g r̥turudrāḥ
Nāṭyaśāstram 15.101:
ādyāt parāṇi pañcātha dvādaśaṁ satrayōdaśam
antyaṁ saptadaśē pādē śikhariṇyāṁ gurūṇi ca
Nāṭyaśāstram 15.102:
caturbhistasyaiva pravaralitasya trikagaṇair
yadā lau gaś cāntē bhavati caraṇē ’tyaṣṭigaditē
yadā ṣaḍbhiś chēdō bhavati yadi mārgēṇa vihitas
tadā vr̥ttēṣv ēṣā khalu śikhariṇī nāma gaditā
Ratnamañjūṣā 6.36:
śikhariṇī rāsiśī
Jānāśrayī 4.86:
śikhariṇī ṅūmlāj
Jayadeva, Chandaḥśāstram 7.13:
yamau nsau blau gantā rasaharavirāmā śikhariṇī
Ratnākaraśānti, Chandōratnākaraḥ 2.61:
yamū naḥ sō bhō lvau rasaharavirāmā śikhariṇī
Jayakīrti, Chandōnuśāsanam 2.209:
r̥tucchēdō ’tyaṣṭau yamanasabhalād gaḥ śikhariṇī
Kedārabhaṭṭa, Vr̥ttaratnākaraḥ 3.87:
rasai rudraś chinnā yamanasabhalagā gaḥ śikhariṇī
Hemacandra, Chandōnuśāsanam 2.286:
yamnasbhalgā śikhariṇī caiḥ
Examples
Nītiśatakam 10
This example was recited by H.V. Nagaraja Rao and recorded by Nathan Levine in Toronto in 2018. The recordings were uploaded to archive.org by Anusha Rao. The translation is mine.
From heaven to Śiva’s head,
from Śiva’s head to the mountain,
from the tall mountain to the earth,
and from the earth to the ocean:
this Gaṅgā has reached progressively
lower stages, bit by bit. Yes, for those
who have lost their capacity to judge,
they will hit rock bottom hundreds of times
in their descent.
Kirātārjunīyam 18.47
This example was recited by H. V. Nagaraja Rao and recorded by Gil Ben-Herut in 2006. Translated by Blake Wentworth.
Having quickly obtained victorious success,
that man of indomitable power stood forth
to carry the heavy burden so that the earth would not sink low.
Taking his place above the worlds through his innate power,
he blazed like the sun through the splendor of austerity
as the immortals praised him in uplifted song.
Saundaryalaharī 1.1, 1.2, 1.22
This example was recited by H. V. Nagaraja Rao and recorded by Gil Ben-Herut in 2006. Translated by me.
Śiva’s power can emerge if he is joined with Śakti.
Otherwise, that god hardly even move.
So you, whom deities such as Hari, Hara and Brahma ought to honor —
how can one who has not stored up merit
do you reverence, or praise you?
Brahma creates the worlds by gathering up
the very fine powder that is produced
by the lotuses of your feet in its entirety,
Hari somehow carries it with his thousand heads,
and Hara compresses it and applies it as ash.
Bhavāni, please direct your compassionate glance
at me, your servant. The one who says this,
‘Bhavāni,’ desiring to praise you,
you immediately show him the path to absorption
in which your feet are lustrated by the crowns
of Viṣṇu, Brahma, and Indra.