scan GRETIL

Skrutable's file-upload function with meter identification can be used to detect textual problems in digital Sanskrit texts. GRETIL texts are high-quality and relatively easy to work with, making them a good starting point.

See the cumulative results so far.

how-to

step 1: Obtain an electronic text. Example: the Bhagavadgītā (BhG) raw GRETIL file.

step 2: Clean the file so that each line contains exactly one whole verse (half an anuṣṭubh śloka is also acceptable). Remove extraneous material. Example: BhG input cleaned.

step 3: Submit the cleaned file using the "Meter" button in the File Upload section of the sidebar. See the file processing help page for instructions. The 700 verses of the Gītā process in about a second: BhG raw output, BhG output cleaned.

step 4: Review the results for metrical irregularities (use regexes to search effectively). These may indicate hyper- or hypo-metrical lines, typos affecting syllable weight, and other textual issues.

For a larger example, consider the Rāmāyaṇa: raw in (Dec 2018 version with semicolons), clean in, raw out, clean out, tallies, notes.

step 5: Address the irregularities:

• correct the digital text
• note corrections needed in the edition itself
• explain in terms of poetic license, etc.

step 6: Share your results with the community.

output categories

• asamīcīna: invalid parts of anuṣṭubhs
• x yuktāḥ pādāḥ: samavṛttas with fewer than four valid pādas
• na kiṃcid adhyavasitam: material not successfully identified as a particular meter
• ajñātasamavṛtta: verses with the shape of samavṛttas (or ardhasamavṛttas) but not yet known by name
• upājāti xyz: upājātis (pādas of equal length) other than the standard indravajrā-upendravajrā type
• ajñātam: pādas of equal length but not recognized as a standard upājāti (usually spurious)
• atha vā: verses that could be classified as more than one meter

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