antaḥ sthā chandas

 Definition:

In Sanskrit prosody, Antaḥsthā Chandas (अन्तःस्थाछन्दस्) refers to a class of poetic metres. The term is derived from antaḥ (अन्तः, “internal” or “middle”) and sthā (स्थान, “position”) combined with chandas (छन्दस्, “metre”), indicating a specific positioning of syllables or rhythm within the structure of a verse.

Context in Sanskrit Literature:

• Chandas or prosody is one of the six Vedangas and studies poetic metre in Vedic and classical Sanskrit texts.
• The resource Wisdom Library confirms that Antaḥsthā Chandas is specifically a named class of metres, and it falls under the larger taxonomy of Vedic and post-Vedic Sanskrit prosody.

Technical Notes:

• Syllables in Sanskrit verses are classified as laghu (light, ह्रस्व, short vowel) or guru (heavy, दीर्घ, long vowel or short vowel followed by conjunct consonants, anusvara, or visarga).
• The arrangement of laghu and guru syllables in specific sequences is key to defining any chandas.
• Antaḥsthā Chandas may refer to metres where the placement of laghu and guru syllables within the internal parts of a quarter (pāda) is especially regulated.
• It is distinct from mātrā-based metres like Āryā, which focus on the total morae per quarter rather than fixed syllabic positions.

References in Classical Texts:

1. Pingala’s Chandah Sutra – earliest systematic treatise on metres, detailing gaṇa sequences (groups of three syllables) such as ya-, ma-, ta-, ra-gaṇa, which form the basis of most Sanskrit chandas.
2. Vṛttaratnakara by Kedara Bhatta and Chandomanjari by Gangadasa – describe and exemplify various metre types, including those with specific internal patterns, which are conceptually related to antaḥsthā chandas.
3. Sanskrit dictionaries (Monier-Williams) define Antaḥsthā as either a metrical name or as a general adjective meaning “interior” or “between,” applicable to the placement of syllables within a verse.

Summary:

• Antaḥsthā Chandas = A named class of metres in Sanskrit prosody.
• Focuses on the internal arrangement of syllables or specific positions within a verse.
• Integral to understanding classical Sanskrit poetry and Vedic hymn composition.

References:

• Wisdom Library: Antahsthachandas
• Sanskritdictionary.com: antaḥsthāchandas
• Sanskrit Prosody (Wikipedia): Chandas

This provides both the lexical meaning and the prosodic context of antaḥsthā chandas in traditional Sanskrit literature.