Adhyaya 334
Prastāra-nirūpaṇa — Explanation of Prastāra (Tabulation/Matrix of Metres)
Lord Agni formalizes prastāra as a rule-governed method for enumerating metrical possibilities, using gāthā as the reference and showing how sequences are generated and compared. The chapter sets out key operations of classical prosody-combinatorics: Naṣṭa (reverse determination from an index to a pattern) and Uddiṣṭa (forward enumeration), with even/odd parity rules, halving steps, and counting adjustments. It then connects prastāra to the Meru-prastāra (a Pascal-like array), stating an “essence of chandas”: numbers are doubled and reduced by one, and totals are derived by stepwise ascent and descent (adhvā/aṅgula imagery). Combinatorics is framed as sacred order—metrical science becomes a mathematical dharma that safeguards the integrity of recitation and enables systematic knowledge of all permissible forms.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Algorithmic rules for prastāra generation and lookup—especially Naṣṭa and Uddiṣṭa methods, halving/parity operations, and the Meru-prastāra basis for metrical counts.
It systematizes correct metrical knowledge, supporting faithful preservation of mantra/poetry and cultivating disciplined intellect—an applied form of dharmic rigor aligned with sacred transmission.