anushtubh

Anuṣṭubh, also spelled anushtubh, is the most prominent meter in classical Sanskrit poetry. It is a fixed verse form used especially in epic and didactic poetry and is closely associated with the well-known shloka, a two-line unit that forms a complete verse. The meter is defined by four units called padas (quarters) in each line, with each pada traditionally containing eight syllables (aksharas). A typical line is thus made up of four padas, and the two-line couplet is the standard unit of a complete verse.

In Sanskrit prosody, syllables are scanned as long (guru) or short (laghu) and the arrangement of these long and short syllables within the four padas gives the characteristic cadence of Anuṣṭubh. The form permits extensive Sandhi (phonetic joining) and rich compound words, which makes it very flexible for Sanskrit expression while maintaining a regular rhythmic skeleton.

Historically, Anuṣṭubh became the dominant meter for classical Sanskrit epic and narrative poetry. It is especially associated with the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, where vast episodes and didactic passages are often conveyed in shlokas. The meter’s balance and musicality have also made it a favored choice for devotional hymns and scholastic verse in later Sanskrit literature.

Related terms include other classical meters such as Tristubh and Gayatri, all part of the broader system of Sanskrit prosody. Anuṣṭubh remains a centerpiece of the traditional poetic repertoire and is taught as a foundational form in the study of Sanskrit verse.