An Outline of the Metres in the Pāḷi Canon
A concise but thorough explanation of the metres that are found in the Pāli canon, along with examples and glossary.
A concise but thorough explanation of the metres that are found in the Pāli canon, along with examples and glossary.
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<strong>An</strong> <strong>Outl<strong>in</strong>e</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Metres</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Pāḷi</strong> <strong>Canon</strong> - 45<br />
−−⏑−¦−⏑⏑¦−⏑−− Tuṭṭhubha<br />
taṁ devataṁ pucchati vedajāto:<br />
⏑⏑−⏑−¦−⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑− Jagatī<br />
katamamhi gāme nigamamhi vā pana,<br />
⏑⏑−⏑−¦⏑⏑⏑−¦−⏑−− Tuṭṭhubha<br />
katamamhi vā janapade lokanātho ?<br />
−⏑−−¦⏑−−−¦¦−−−⏑¦⏑−⏑− Siloka<br />
Yattha gantvā namassemu Sambuddhaṁ dipaduttamaṁ? (Sn<br />
995)<br />
Siloka & Jagatī<br />
Th 306 = Siloka, ab - Jagatī, cd<br />
Th 1089 = Siloka, abc - Jagatī, def<br />
Siloka & Mattāchandas<br />
Th 1 = Op, acd - Siloka, b<br />
Th 551 = Siloka, a - Vetālīya, bcd<br />
Th 1004 = Āpātalikā, ab - Vetālīya, c - Siloka, d!:<br />
⏑⏑−⏑⏑¦−⏑⏑⏑−− Āpātalikā<br />
Ubhayena-m-idaṁ maraṇam-eva, 1<br />
−⏑⏑−−¦−⏑⏑−− Āpātalikā<br />
nāmaraṇaṁ pacchā va pure vā,<br />
⏑⏑−⏑⏑¦−⏑−⏑− Vetālīya<br />
paṭipajjatha mā v<strong>in</strong>assatha,<br />
⏑−−−¦⏑−⏑− Siloka<br />
khaṇo ve mā upaccagā! (Th 1004)<br />
Siloka & Gaṇacchandas<br />
Siloka l<strong>in</strong>es appear <strong>in</strong> gaṇacchandas verses a surpris<strong>in</strong>g number <strong>of</strong><br />
times. It seems to be <strong>the</strong> rule that when <strong>the</strong> two metres share a<br />
pādayuga, Siloka takes <strong>the</strong> odd l<strong>in</strong>e. Gotama’s gāthās Th 587-596<br />
provide a good example <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mix<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> Siloka l<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong> what are<br />
o<strong>the</strong>rwise gaṇacchandas verses:<br />
1 The l<strong>in</strong>e has an extra syllable <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> cadence, we could th<strong>in</strong>k <strong>of</strong> read<strong>in</strong>g<br />
maraṇaṁ va to correct <strong>the</strong> metre.