An Outline of the Metres in the Pāḷi Canon

An Outline of the Metres in the Pāḷi Canon - 19
prior lines, and the Anuṭṭhubha at that time is the most important
variation accounting for about 15%. As the metre comes closer to its
Classical form in the later part of the Canon the Anuṭṭhubha occurs
only sporadically, and the pathyā greatly predominates, sometimes
accounting for as much as 85% of all the lines (for more on the
development of the Siloka, see the Appendix).
An interesting comparison is afforded between the early Siloka of
the questions and answers in Pārāyanavagga of Suttanipāta, and the
late Siloka of the Introductory Verses (Vatthugāthā). We may note
here that in Hemakamāṇavāpucchā (Sn V:8) (vs 1084 ff) we may
have a case of the Anuṭṭhubha being used as an independent metre in
the Canon, but as it is only 4 vs long it is too short to be sure.
Early Siloka from Jatukaṇṇīmāṇavapucchā (Sn V: 12) (vs 1098-99):
−−⏑⏑¦⏑⏑−−¦¦−−−−¦⏑−⏑− savipulā
Kāmesu vinaya gedhaṁ, nekkhammaṁ daṭṭhu khemato,
−⏑−−¦⏑−−−¦¦−−−−¦⏑−⏑− Pathyā
uggahītaṁ nirattaṁ vā mā te vijjittha kiñcanaṁ.
−−−−¦⏑−−−¦¦−−−−¦⏑−⏑− Pathyā
Yaṁ pubbe taṁ visosehi, pacchā te māhu kiñcanaṁ.
−−−−¦⏑−⏑−¦¦⏑⏑−−¦⏑−⏑− Anuṭṭhubha
Majjhe ce no gahessasi upasanto carissasi.
Late Siloka (Sn V vs 1-3) (vs 976-978), narrative style:
−⏑−−¦⏑−−−¦¦⏑⏑−−¦⏑−⏑− Pathyā
Kosalānaṁ purā rammā agamā Dakkhiṇāpathaṁ
−−−−¦−⏑−−¦¦−⏑−−¦⏑−⏑− ravipulā
ākiñcaññaṁ patthayāno, brāhmaṇo mantapāragū.
−−⏑−¦⏑⏑⏑−¦¦⏑⏑−⏑¦⏑−⏑− navipulā
So Assakassa visaye, Aḷakassa samāsane,
⏑−−−¦⏑−−−¦¦−−⏑⏑¦⏑−⏑− Pathyā
vasī Godhāvarīkūle uñchena ca phalena ca.