Nāṭyaśāstra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Madhukarī (मधुकरी) refers to a type of syllabic metre (vṛtta), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 16. In this metre, the seventh, the eighth and the ninth syllables of a foot (pāda) are heavy (guru), while the rest of the syllables are light (laghu). It is also known by the name Bhujagaśiśubhṛtā.
⏑⏑⏑¦⏑⏑⏑¦⎼⎼⎼¦¦⏑⏑⏑¦⏑⏑⏑¦⎼⎼⎼¦¦
⏑⏑⏑¦⏑⏑⏑¦⎼⎼⎼¦¦⏑⏑⏑¦⏑⏑⏑¦⎼⎼⎼¦¦
Madhukarī falls in the Bṛhatī class of chandas (‘rhythm-type’), which implies that verses constructed with this metre have four pādas (‘foot’ or ‘quarter-verse’) containing nine syllables each.
Nāṭyaśāstra (नाट्यशास्त्र, natya-shastra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition of performing arts, (e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nāṭya) and poetic works (kāvya).
General definition (in Hinduism)
Mādhukarī (माधुकरी).—A saintly mendicant who takes a little food from each householder's place like a bee gathering honey; a system of begging adopted by a mendicant.
