An Outline of the Metres in the Pāḷi Canon

An Outline of the Metres in the Pāḷi Canon - 33
In the 2nd and 6th gaṇas the pattern ⏔− sometimes occurs, but
−⏑⏑ is very rare in any gaṇa. The opening gaṇa quite frequently
looks like this: ⏑− ; in this case we have to count the initial syllable
as heavy (pādādigaru) to make up the mattā count (cf. 2.10 above). In
the normal form we sometimes find that the 4th gaṇa looks like this:
⏑,− ; in this case we have to count the light syllable, which occurs at
the end of the first half of the pādayuga as heavy (pādantagaru), as
in the measure metres. With the extended form cf. the extended
Tuṭṭhubha, 2.7 above.
Examples: Mettāsutta Khp 9; Tuvaṭakasutta Sn IV:14; Vangīsa’s
gāthās (part) Th 1242-1245; Upālisutta MN:56
Example from Tuvaṭakasutta (vs 922-3):
−−¦⏑−⏑¦−−¦−,−¦⏑⏑−¦⏑−⏑¦⏑⏑−¦− pādantagaru
“Cakkhūhi neva lolassa, gāmakathāya āvarayĕ sotaṁ,
−−¦⏑−⏑¦−−¦⏑,⏑⏑⏑¦−−¦⏑−⏑¦−−¦− pādādigaru + resolution
rase ca nānugijjheyya, na ca mamāyetha kiñci lokasmiṁ.
−−¦⏑⏑−¦−−¦⏑,⏑⏑−¦−−¦⏑⏑⏑⏑¦⏑⏑−¦− extended + resolution
Phassena yadā phuṭṭhassa paridevaṁ bhikkhu na karĕyya kuhiñci,
−−¦⏑−⏑¦−−¦⏑,−⏑¦−⏑⏑¦⏑−⏑¦−−¦− pādādigaru + normal break
bhavañ-ca nābhijappeyya, bheravesu ca na sampavedheyya.
2.17 Gīti, Ariyā (Āryā), and their derivatives
In the gaṇacchandas metres in the Pāḷi canon, there are two
structures to the pādayuga (pair of lines), they are:
Gaṇacchandas 1st pādayuga:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Gaṇacchandas 2nd pādayuga:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8