UB40 - Fools Rush In

 मात्राछन्दस् (mAtrACandas)



Today we would talk about a type of मात्राछन्दस्  (mAtrACandas).



I am sure many of us would have heard the Bhajogovindam of Adi Shankara where the famous 1st stanza goes.



भज गोविन्दं भज गोविन्दं
गोविन्दं भज मूढमते ।
सम्प्राप्ते सन्निहिते काले
नहि नहि रक्षति डुकृङ्करणे ॥



bhaja govindaM bhaja govindaM

govindaM bhaja mUdhmate

samprApte sannihite kAle

nahi nahi rakSati dukRṅkarane



Worship Govinda, worship Govinda, 
Worship Govinda, oh fool!
At the time of your death,
Rules of grammar will not save you.







Bhajo Govindam comes under  मात्राछन्दस्  (mAtrACandas)..that too a subtype named पादाकुलकम्(pAdAkulakam) in which each verse has 4 lines with 16 matras each.


मात्राछन्दस्  (mAtrACandas) calculation rules:

1) One count for a short vowel and consonants with short vowels.

2) Two counts for long vowels,consonants with long vowels and conjunct consonants.

In Bhajo Govindam there is a peculiarity ..that is the first verse does not really entirely follow the मात्राछन्दस्  (mAtrACandas) rules.


Let me explain:

In the 1st verse of Bhajo Govindam.


bhaja govindaM bhaja govindaM

govindaM bhaja mUdhmate

samprApte sannihite kAle

nahi nahi rakSati dukRṅkarane

The 2nd line does NOT follow the 16 mAtrA rule...the 2nd line "govindaM bhaja mUdhmate"only has 14 mAtrA.


The 3rd and 4th line follow the 16 mAtrA rule.



But I dont know why only the line which say "mUdhmate"(Fool) has 14mAtrA..no one explains why?


Who knows may be since the composer was calling another a fool the composer decided to play the fool around too and not follow 16 mAtrA rule or may be he was hinting that "Only fools rush in!"