An Outline of the Metres in the Pāḷi Canon

More documents

Recommendations

Info

An Outline of the Metres in the Pāḷi Canon - 28 Opacchandasaka example from Kātiyāna’s gāthā (Th 412): ⏑⏑−⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−− Sayathā pi mahāsamuddavego −−−⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−− evaṁ jātijarātivattate taṁ, ⏑⏑−⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−− sŏ karohi sudīpam-attano tvaṁ, 1 ⏑⏑−−⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−− na hi tāṇaṁ tava vijjateva aññaṁ. 2.11 Mattāchandas Periods It should be noted that in the early texts the most common opening of the odd lines in Vetālīya is −−⏑⏑. In the later period this falls back considerably with the other variations, notably ⏑⏑−⏑⏑ showing a marked increase; also in the later period the syncopated forms almost come to an end, and runs of light syllables start to appear. 2.12 Rathoddhatā and Pupphitaggā (Puṣpitāgrā) These are the two fixed metres derived from the above. Rathoddhatā (a Vetālīya even pāda): Similarly Pupphitaggā (from Opacchandasaka) in the Canon is still somewhat flexible: ⏔⏔⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−× ⏔⏔−⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−× (x2) with occasional resolution of a heavy syllable elsewhere. In its postcanonical form the opening of the first line was fixed as ⏑⏑⏑⏑⏑⏑ and the second as ⏑⏑⏑⏑−⏑⏑. 1 Reading sŏ as short to give the correct opening
An Outline of the Metres in the Pāḷi Canon - 29 In both of these metres the fixed forms have unusual variations in the openings, the latter especially showing the Classical period’s fondness for runs of light syllables. Examples: Rathoddhatā, early: Gotama’s gāthās Th 258-260; Ambapālī’s gāthās Thī 252-270; late: Kuṇāla Jātaka Ja 536. Both metres are used independently in Lakkhaṇasuttanta D.30. Rathoddhatā example Ambapālī’s gāthā (Thī 256): −⏑−⏑⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑− Cittakārasukatā va lekhitā, −⏑−⏑⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑− sobhate su bhamukā pure mama, −⏑−⏑⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑− tā jarāya valihī palambitā, −⏑−⏑⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑− saccavādivacanaṁ anaññathā. Pupphitaggā example from Lakkhaṇasuttanta (D. 30. 1. 12): ⏑⏑⏑⏑⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−− Tihi purisavaraggalakkhaṇehi 1 ⏑⏑⏑⏑−⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−− cirayapanāya kumāram-ādisanti. ⏑⏑⏑⏑⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−− Bhavati yadi gihī ciraṁ yapeti, ⏑⏑⏑⏑−⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−− ciratarapabbajatī yadī tato hi, −⏑⏑⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−− yāpayati vasiddhibhāvanāya, ⏑⏑−−⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑−− iti dīghāyukatāya tan-nimittan-ti 1 The text here is based on K.R.Norman’s reconstruction in The metres of the Lakkhaṇa-suttanta (II). CP IV, pgs 36ff.
Page 2 and 3: An Outline of the Metres in the Pā
Page 4 and 5: iii Acknowledgements The idea for t
Page 6 and 7: v Preface to the 3rd Edition (May,
Page 72: An Outline of the Metres in the Pā

An Outline of the Metres in the Pāḷi Canon

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?