anudruta

 In Sanskrit, "anudruta" (अनुद्रुत) primarily means "followed" or "pursued," and it also refers to a specific measure of time in classical Indian music.

Literal and Grammatical Meaning

• Anudruta is a past participle (p.p.) formed from the root "dru" 
• (to run, follow) with the prefix "anu-" (after, along), giving the 
• sense of "having followed" or "pursued" 

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• It can be used actively or passively in Sanskrit literature: to describe 
• someone or something that follows, pursues, or accompanies.
• For instance, in classical texts like the Śiśupālavadha, it is used
• in phrases such as
• धनुर्धरं राजसुतैरनुद्रुतम् (dhanurdharaṃ rājasutairanudrutam) meaning
• "[followed by] royal princes" 

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• Additionally, it may denote something sent or brought back, 
• such as a sound that follows another 

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Usage in Music and Temporal Measurement

• In the context of Indian classical music and the Natyashastra, 
• anudruta represents a small unit of time. It is equivalent to half 
• a druta or one-fourth of a mātrā (the time taken to pronounce 
• a short vowel) 

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• This temporal meaning also situates it among the
• five aṅgas (limbs) of a tāla (musical meter) in classical texts,
• indicating its role in rhythm and tempo 

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Etymological Insight

• The compound anu-dru comes from anu (after, along) + dru (gone, 
• escaped, move), reflecting the action of following, chasing, or pursuing 

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• In literary and philosophical contexts, this reflects continuity or 
• sequence, such as actions following another or notes following 
• a beat in rhythm.
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Summary of Meanings

1. Followed, pursued, accompanied – in active or passive verbal sense.
2. Sent or brought back – especially applied to sound.
3. Unit of time in music – half of a druta or one-fourth of a mātrā 

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Thus, anudruta is both a grammatical term in Sanskrit literature and 

a technical term in classical Indian music, highlighting its versatility 

across textual and performing arts contexts.